2010: A Bible Odyssey

Have you ever read through the whole Bible? Have you ever wondered how the whole story connects together? This year I am challenging myself and our congregation to Journey through the Bible in a year. I encourage you to take up this challenge and commit to pursue doing the daily readings (The schedule even Gives you Saturdays off to catch up.)
While you do this you'll know that others are doing it with you. You'll have fellow travelers reading the same accounts of God's great works and will always have something to talk about.
In addition your pastor will be preaching throughout the year from selections from the scriptures as you are reading them, highlighting the great unfolding story of God's Good News.
Our journey will not be like the usual, Bible in a year, plans but will be a cover to cover journey, keeping the story in unity from Genesis through Revelation. If you get off track you can just pick up on that days readings and then recover on Saturday.
I am excited to be doing this with you and I know it will not only make us stronger in the Word, but also strengthen our ties as a congregation as we find our place in the adventure together.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Bible Reading Plan for Oakdale UP Church 2010

Use Saturdays to catch up.

Pray: Heavenly Father, Through the Holy Spirit, help me to understand what I read and apply it to
my life. In Jesus Name Amen.


_ 1/1/2010 –––– Genesis 1 - 4
_ 1/3/2010 –––– Genesis 5 - 8
_ 1/4/2010 –––– Genesis 9 - 11
_ 1/5/2010 –––– Genesis 12 - 16
_ 1/6/2010 –––– Genesis 17 - 19
_ 1/7/2010 –––– Genesis 20 - 23
_ 1/8/2010 –––– Genesis 24 - 25
_ 1/10/2010 ––– Genesis 26 - 28
_ 1/11/2010 ––– Genesis 29 - 30
_ 1/12/2010 ––– Genesis 31 - 34
_ 1/13/2010 ––– Genesis 35 - 36
_ 1/14/2010 ––– Genesis 37 - 40
_ 1/15/2010 ––– Genesis 41 - 42
_ 1/17/2010 ––– Genesis 43 - 45
_ 1/18/2010 ––– Genesis 46 - 49
_ 1/19/2010 ––– Genesis 50
_ ––––––––––– Exodus 1 - 3
_ 1/20/2010 ––– Exodus 4 - 7
_ 1/21/2010 ––– Exodus 8 - 10
_ 1/22/2010 ––– Exodus 11 - 13
_ 1/24/2010 ––– Exodus 14 - 17
_ 1/25/2010 ––– Exodus 18 - 21
_ 1/26/2010 ––– Exodus 22 - 24
_ 1/27/2010 ––– Exodus 25 - 27
_ 1/28/2010 ––– Exodus 28 - 29
_ 1/29/2010 ––– Exodus 30 - 33
_ 1/31/2010 ––– Exodus 34 - 36
_ 2/1/2010 –––– Exodus 37 - 39
_ 2/2/2010 –––– Exodus 40
_ ––––––––––– Leviticus 1 - 3
_ 2/3/2010 –––– Leviticus 4 - 7
_ 2/4/2010 –––– Leviticus 8 - 10
_ 2/5/2010 –––– Leviticus 11 - 13
_ 2/7/2010 –––– Leviticus 14 - 15
_ 2/8/2010 –––– Leviticus 16 - 18
_ 2/9/2010 –––– Leviticus 19 - 22
_ 2/10/2010 ––– Leviticus 23 - 25
_ 2/11/2010 ––– Leviticus 26 - 27
_ 2/12/2010 ––– Numbers 1 - 2
_ 2/14/2010 ––– Numbers 3 - 4
_ 2/15/2010 ––– Numbers 5 - 7
_ 2/16/2010 ––– Numbers 8 - 9
_ 2/17/2010 ––– Numbers 10 - 13
_ 2/18/2010 ––– Numbers 14 - 15
_ 2/19/2010 ––– Numbers 16 - 18
_ 2/21/2010 ––– Numbers 19 - 22
_ 2/22/2010 ––– Numbers 23 - 25
_ 2/23/2010 ––– Numbers 26 - 28
_ 2/24/2010 ––– Numbers 29 - 31
_ 2/25/2010 ––– Numbers 32 - 33
_ 2/26/2010 ––– Numbers 34 - 36
_ 2/28/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 1 - 3
_ 3/1/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 4 - 6
_ 3/2/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 7 - 10
_ 3/3/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 11 - 13
_ 3/4/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 14 - 18
_ 3/5/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 19 - 22
_ 3/7/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 23 - 27
_ 3/8/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 28 - 29
_ 3/9/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 30 - 32
_ 3/10/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 33 - 34
_ ––––––––––– Joshua 1 - 2
_ 3/11/2010 ––– Joshua 3 - 7
_ 3/12/2010 ––– Joshua 8 - 10
_ 3/14/2010 ––– Joshua 11 - 14
_ 3/15/2010 ––– Joshua 15 - 17
_ 3/16/2010 ––– Joshua 18 - 20
_ 3/17/2010 ––– Joshua 21 - 24
_ 3/18/2010 ––– Judges 1 - 3
_ 3/19/2010 ––– Judges 4 - 6
_ 3/21/2010 ––– Judges 7 - 9
_ 3/22/2010 ––– Judges 10 - 13
_ 3/23/2010 ––– Judges 14 - 17
_ 3/24/2010 ––– Judges 18 - 20
_ 3/25/2010 ––– Judges 21
_ ––––––––––– Ruth 1 - 3
_ 3/26/2010 ––– Ruth 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Samuel 1 - 3
_ 3/28/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 4 - 8
_ 3/29/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 9 - 13
_ 3/30/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 14 - 15
_ 3/31/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 16 - 18
_ 4/1/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 19 - 22
_ 4/2/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 23 - 25
_ 4/4/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 26 - 30
_ 4/5/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 31
_ ––––––––––– 2 Samuel 1 - 2
_ 4/6/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 3 - 7
_ 4/7/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 8 - 11
_ 4/8/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 12 - 14
_ 4/9/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 15 - 18
_ 4/11/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 19 - 21
_ 4/12/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 22 - 23
_ 4/13/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 24
_ ––––––––––– 1 Kings 1 - 2
_ 4/14/2010 ––– 1 Kings 3 - 5
_ 4/15/2010 ––– 1 Kings 6 - 7
_ 4/16/2010 ––– 1 Kings 8 - 10
_ 4/18/2010 ––– 1 Kings 11 - 12
_ 4/19/2010 ––– 1 Kings 13 - 15
_ 4/20/2010 ––– 1 Kings 16 - 19
_ 4/21/2010 ––– 1 Kings 20 - 21
_ 4/22/2010 ––– 1 Kings 22
_ ––––––––––– 2 Kings 1 - 3
_ 4/23/2010 ––– 2 Kings 4 - 6
_ 4/25/2010 ––– 2 Kings 7 - 9
_ 4/26/2010 ––– 2 Kings 10 - 13
_ 4/27/2010 ––– 2 Kings 14 - 16
_ 4/28/2010 ––– 2 Kings 17 - 19
_ 4/29/2010 ––– 2 Kings 20 - 23
_ 4/30/2010 ––– 2 Kings 24 - 25
_ ––––––––––– 1 Chronicles 1
_ 5/2/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 2 - 3
_ 5/3/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 4 - 6
_ 5/4/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 7 - 8
_ 5/5/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 9 - 11
_ 5/6/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 12 - 14
_ 5/7/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 15 - 18
_ 5/9/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 19 - 23
_ 5/10/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 24 - 26
_ 5/11/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 27 - 29
_ 5/12/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 1 - 5
_ 5/13/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 6 - 9
_ 5/14/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 10 - 14
_ 5/16/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 15 - 19
_ 5/17/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 20 - 24
_ 5/18/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 25 - 28
_ 5/19/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 29 - 32
_ 5/20/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 33 - 35
_ 5/21/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 36
_ ––––––––––– Ezra 1 - 2
_ 5/23/2010 ––– Ezra 3 - 7
_ 5/24/2010 ––– Ezra 8 - 10
_ 5/25/2010 ––– Nehemiah 1 - 4
_ 5/26/2010 ––– Nehemiah 5 - 7
_ 5/27/2010 ––– Nehemiah 8 - 10
_ 5/28/2010 ––– Nehemiah 11 - 13
_ 5/30/2010 ––– Esther 1 - 5
_ 5/31/2010 ––– Esther 6 - 10
_ ––––––––––– Job 1
_ 6/1/2010 –––– Job 2 - 5
_ 6/2/2010 –––– Job 6 - 9
_ 6/3/2010 –––– Job 10 - 13
_ 6/4/2010 –––– Job 14 - 17
_ 6/6/2010 –––– Job 18 - 21
_ 6/7/2010 –––– Job 22 - 26
_ 6/8/2010 –––– Job 27 - 30
_ 6/9/2010 –––– Job 31 - 33
_ 6/10/2010 ––– Job 34 - 36
_ 6/11/2010 ––– Job 37 - 39
_ 6/13/2010 ––– Job 40 - 42
_ ––––––––––– Psalms 1 - 4
_ 6/14/2010 ––– Psalms 5 - 12
_ 6/15/2010 ––– Psalms 13 - 18
_ 6/16/2010 ––– Psalms 19 - 25
_ 6/17/2010 ––– Psalms 26 - 32
_ 6/18/2010 ––– Psalms 33 - 36
_ 6/20/2010 ––– Psalms 37 - 42
_ 6/21/2010 ––– Psalms 43 - 49
_ 6/22/2010 ––– Psalms 50 - 56
_ 6/23/2010 ––– Psalms 57 - 64
_ 6/24/2010 ––– Psalms 65 - 69
_ 6/25/2010 ––– Psalms 70 - 74
_ 6/27/2010 ––– Psalms 75 - 78
_ 6/28/2010 ––– Psalms 79 - 83
_ 6/29/2010 ––– Psalms 84 - 89
_ 6/30/2010 ––– Psalms 90 - 94
_ 7/1/2010 –––– Psalms 95 - 102
_ 7/2/2010 –––– Psalms 103 - 105
_ 7/4/2010 –––– Psalms 106 - 108
_ 7/5/2010 –––– Psalms 109 - 115
_ 7/6/2010 –––– Psalms 116 - 118
_ 7/7/2010 –––– Psalms 119
_ 7/8/2010 –––– Psalms 120 - 131
_ 7/9/2010 –––– Psalms 132 - 139
_ 7/11/2010 ––– Psalms 140 - 146
_ 7/12/2010 ––– Psalms 147 - 150
_ ––––––––––– Proverbs 1 - 2
_ 7/13/2010 ––– Proverbs 3 - 5
_ 7/14/2010 ––– Proverbs 6 - 9
_ 7/15/2010 ––– Proverbs 10 - 12
_ 7/16/2010 ––– Proverbs 13 - 15
_ 7/18/2010 ––– Proverbs 16 - 19
_ 7/19/2010 ––– Proverbs 20 - 22
_ 7/20/2010 ––– Proverbs 23 - 25
_ 7/21/2010 ––– Proverbs 26 - 29
_ 7/22/2010 ––– Proverbs 30 - 31
_ ––––––––––– Ecclesiastes 1
_ 7/23/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 2 - 6
_ 7/25/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 7 - 12
_ 7/26/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 1 - 7
_ 7/27/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 8
_ ––––––––––– Isaiah 1 - 4
_ 7/28/2010 ––– Isaiah 5 - 8
_ 7/29/2010 ––– Isaiah 9 - 13
_ 7/30/2010 ––– Isaiah 14 - 20
_ 8/1/2010 –––– Isaiah 21 - 25
_ 8/2/2010 –––– Isaiah 26 - 29
_ 8/3/2010 –––– Isaiah 30 - 35
_ 8/4/2010 –––– Isaiah 36 - 39
_ 8/5/2010 –––– Isaiah 40 - 43
_ 8/6/2010 –––– Isaiah 44 - 48
_ 8/8/2010 –––– Isaiah 49 - 53
_ 8/9/2010 –––– Isaiah 54 - 59
_ 8/10/2010 ––– Isaiah 60 - 65
_ 8/11/2010 ––– Isaiah 66
_ ––––––––––– Jeremiah 1 - 3
_ 8/12/2010 ––– Jeremiah 4 - 6
_ 8/13/2010 ––– Jeremiah 7 - 10
_ 8/15/2010 ––– Jeremiah 11 - 14
_ 8/16/2010 ––– Jeremiah 15 - 19
_ 8/17/2010 ––– Jeremiah 20 - 23
_ 8/18/2010 ––– Jeremiah 24 - 27
_ 8/19/2010 ––– Jeremiah 28 - 31
_ 8/20/2010 ––– Jeremiah 32 - 34
_ 8/22/2010 ––– Jeremiah 35 - 38
_ 8/23/2010 ––– Jeremiah 39 - 43
_ 8/24/2010 ––– Jeremiah 44 - 48
_ 8/25/2010 ––– Jeremiah 49 - 50
_ 8/26/2010 ––– Jeremiah 51 - 52
_ 8/27/2010 ––– Lamentations 1 - 3
_ 8/29/2010 ––– Lamentations 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– Ezekiel 1 - 2
_ 8/30/2010 ––– Ezekiel 3 - 7
_ 8/31/2010 ––– Ezekiel 8 - 12
_ 9/1/2010 –––– Ezekiel 13 - 16
_ 9/2/2010 –––– Ezekiel 17 - 19
_ 9/3/2010 –––– Ezekiel 20 - 22
_ 9/5/2010 –––– Ezekiel 23 - 25
_ 9/6/2010 –––– Ezekiel 26 - 29
_ 9/7/2010 –––– Ezekiel 30 - 33
_ 9/8/2010 –––– Ezekiel 34 - 36
_ 9/9/2010 –––– Ezekiel 37 - 39
_ 9/10/2010 ––– Ezekiel 40 - 43
_ 9/12/2010 ––– Ezekiel 44 - 47
_ 9/13/2010 ––– Ezekiel 48
_ ––––––––––– Daniel 1 - 2
_ 9/14/2010 ––– Daniel 3 - 5
_ 9/15/2010 ––– Daniel 6 - 8
_ 9/16/2010 ––– Daniel 9 - 12
_ 9/17/2010 ––– Hosea 1 - 7
_ 9/19/2010 ––– Hosea 8 - 14
_ 9/20/2010 ––– Joel 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Amos 1 - 2
_ 9/21/2010 ––– Amos 3 - 8
_ 9/22/2010 ––– Amos 9
_ ––––––––––– Obadiah 1
_ ––––––––––– Jonah 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Micah 1
_ 9/23/2010 ––– Micah 2 - 7
_ 9/24/2010 ––– Nahum 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Habakkuk 1 - 3
_ 9/26/2010 ––– Zephaniah 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Haggai 1 - 2
_ 9/27/2010 ––– Zechariah 1 - 7
_ 9/28/2010 ––– Zechariah 8 - 14
_ 9/29/2010 ––– Malachi 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Matthew 1
_ 9/30/2010 ––– Matthew 2 - 5
_ 10/1/2010 ––– Matthew 6 - 8
_ 10/3/2010 ––– Matthew 9 - 11
_ 10/4/2010 ––– Matthew 12 - 13
_ 10/5/2010 ––– Matthew 14 - 15
_ 10/6/2010 ––– Matthew 16 - 18
_ 10/7/2010 ––– Matthew 19 - 21
_ 10/8/2010 ––– Matthew 22 - 23
_ 10/10/2010 –– Matthew 24 - 25
_ 10/11/2010 –– Matthew 26 - 27
_ 10/12/2010 –– Matthew 28
_ ––––––––––– Mark 1
_ 10/13/2010 –– Mark 2 - 4
_ 10/14/2010 –– Mark 5 - 6
_ 10/15/2010 –– Mark 7 - 9
_ 10/17/2010 –– Mark 10 - 11
_ 10/18/2010 –– Mark 12 - 13
_ 10/19/2010 –– Mark 14 - 15
_ 10/20/2010 –– Mark 16
_ ––––––––––– Luke 1
_ 10/21/2010 –– Luke 2 - 3
_ 10/22/2010 –– Luke 4 - 5
_ 10/24/2010 –– Luke 6 - 7
_ 10/25/2010 –– Luke 8 - 9
_ 10/26/2010 –– Luke 10 - 11
_ 10/27/2010 –– Luke 12 - 13
_ 10/28/2010 –– Luke 14 - 16
_ 10/29/2010 –– Luke 17 - 18
_ 10/31/2010 –– Luke 19 - 21
_ 11/1/2010 ––– Luke 22
_ 11/2/2010 ––– Luke 23 - 24
_ 11/3/2010 ––– John 1 - 3
_ 11/4/2010 ––– John 4 - 5
_ 11/5/2010 ––– John 6
_ 11/7/2010 ––– John 7 - 8
_ 11/8/2010 ––– John 9 - 10
_ 11/9/2010 ––– John 11 - 12
_ 11/10/2010 –– John 13 - 16
_ 11/11/2010 –– John 17 - 18
_ 11/12/2010 –– John 19 - 21
_ ––––––––––– Acts 1
_ 11/14/2010 –– Acts 2 - 4
_ 11/15/2010 –– Acts 5 - 6
_ 11/16/2010 –– Acts 7 - 9
_ 11/17/2010 –– Acts 10 - 11
_ 11/18/2010 –– Acts 12 - 14
_ 11/19/2010 –– Acts 15 - 16
_ 11/21/2010 –– Acts 17 - 19
_ 11/22/2010 –– Acts 20 - 22
_ 11/23/2010 –– Acts 23 - 25
_ 11/24/2010 –– Acts 26 - 28
_ 11/25/2010 –– Romans 1 - 3
_ 11/26/2010 –– Romans 4 - 7
_ 11/28/2010 –– Romans 8 - 11
_ 11/29/2010 –– Romans 12 - 15
_ 11/30/2010 –– Romans 16
_ ––––––––––– 1 Corinthians 1 - 3
_ 12/1/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 4 - 7
_ 12/2/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 8 - 11
_ 12/3/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 12 - 14
_ 12/5/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 15 - 16
_ ––––––––––– 2 Corinthians 1
_ 12/6/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 2 - 6
_ 12/7/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 7 - 11
_ 12/8/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– Galatians 1 - 3
_ 12/9/2010 ––– Galatians 4 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Ephesians 1
_ 12/10/2010 –– Ephesians 2 - 4
_ 12/12/2010 –– Ephesians 5 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Philippians 1 - 2
_ 12/13/2010 –– Philippians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Colossians 1 - 2
_ 12/14/2010 –– Colossians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Thessalonians 1 - 4
_ 12/15/2010 –– 1 Thessalonians 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Thessalonians 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 Timothy 1
_ 12/16/2010 –– 1 Timothy 2 - 6
_ 12/17/2010 –– 2 Timothy 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Titus 1
_ 12/19/2010 –– Titus 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Philemon 1
_ ––––––––––– Hebrews 1 - 3
_ 12/20/2010 –– Hebrews 4 - 8
_ 12/21/2010 –– Hebrews 9 - 11
_ 12/22/2010 –– Hebrews 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– James 1 - 2
_ 12/23/2010 –– James 3 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 1 Peter 1
_ 12/24/2010 –– 1 Peter 2 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Peter 1
_ 12/26/2010 –– 2 Peter 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 John 1 - 3
_ 12/27/2010 –– 1 John 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 John 1
_ ––––––––––– 3 John 1
_ ––––––––––– Jude 1
_ 12/28/2010 –– Revelation 1 - 6
_ 12/29/2010 –– Revelation 7 - 12
_ 12/30/2010 –– Revelation 13 - 17
_ 12/31/2010 –– Revelation 18 - 22

Read and consider this, on the merits of its statements, not on public opinion or perceptions. Does this reflect your beliefs? What stand should be taken? Are the three points true and non-negotiable? Your thoughts...

The Manhattan Declaration
A Call of Christian Conscience
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.


Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.


from: http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Newsletter Nov 2009

Being the Church, Wherever You go...

If you are not into computers please bear with this article because, trust me, It will have something for you too.

During the time I was gone I attended the 2009 MidAmerica Wee Kirk Conference. Wee Kirk is a ministry to Members and Leaders of small churches co-sponsored by Presbyterians for Renewal and the denomination and subsidized by generous churches. It is by the way, one of the best deals in the Presbyterian church, a three day two night conference including room, food, and the conference for under $100 per couple (or family if in one room) and even less for individuals. I only tell you this because on this trip, I completed my last obligation to the Mid America conference and next year will be trying to convince some of you to take a much shorter journey with me to the one right here in PA. (This year's was in Mount Pleasant)

Anyway to save money on travel for workshop leaders they get as many planning team members as possible to lead workshops, so while I was there I led the 1 hour workshop "His Space: using Social Networking for ministry in the Wee Kirk." For those of you who use Facebook or MySpace or any number of other of these sites you know what "Social Networking" means. For anyone else, it suffices to say that an awful lot of people are using these sites on the Internet to stay connected to friends and family around the world, down the street, and even in their own house.

Another old friend of mine Dr. Douglas Estes, who I reconnected with on Facebook, had at the same time just published a book called SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World. He sent me a copy of the book while I was in Oklahoma. His book takes ministry on the web a step even further, exploring and instructing about an ongoing practice of some believers, "virtual churches". These are churches that exist on the internet for people to participate in on the web, apearing there as "avatars" animated representations of themselves. Now if this sounds weird to you I'll grant you that, But...

The World has become weird.

And Wired...and Wireless.

Technology, for better or worse has become an increasing part of our lives and more and more a part of the way we communicate and relate to each other. And people are spending an increasing amount of their time online.

So whether you like the online world or not, whether you own a computer or not, the challenge remains the same. Mark 16:15 records Jesus saying "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Go into all the world...to me, means go where people are. Online, Offline, Virtual, "real" world, wherever you are, you are the church. Wherever you find people, those people need to hear the gospel so they can respond to it with faith. People of faith need encouragement, wherever you can find them. People need Jesus. Obviously, not all of us are called to jump into ministry in virtual environments, but we are all called, wherever we are, to be the church, representing Christ to everyone we meet, everywhere.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Sunday Sept 27

Acts 21:17-36

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication." 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of theRoman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

Acts 21:17-36 Exposition

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Her we find Paul, after being told through the Spirit, that he faced certain arrest and persecution, arriving in that city. While he would certainly face persecution, he was initially received well by the "brethren" there. The "brethren" are the Christ following Jews and among them the Apostles and elders who remained in that City. These were those whose leadership in the church had formerly led to the decisions about how gentile Christians were to be received into the church and what would be required of these men and women who were not under the Law. The received Paul well and gladly.

18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

It was fitting for Paul to visit with these elders and with James since he was of the same church and not seeking to work in their city and lead people to a separate communion or present another "gospel'. His visit itself is a show of unity between the Jerusalem church and the converts Paul had won in the surrounding gentile world. This was truly to be one church founded on Jesus Christ alone.

19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God;

The success of a minister in one area is no cause for alarm to the true Church, for the true church enjoys nothing more than to see God's Kingdom Grow. Another's success is not our failure but spurs us on to greater worship and greater service ourselves.

and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;

Paul is then reminded that in the time of his absence from Jerusalem how many Jews also are believers so that he would understand the differences between these Jews who were "zealous for the law" and those people of the Churches Paul had encountered who were less concerned with the law being more like the gentiles in culture if not Gentile themselves.

21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Paul is told that the rumor about him in Jerusalem is that he has been teaching Jews to abandon those customs of the law which set them apart as People of Israel. This rumor had no basis as Paul's mission was to the Gentiles and any contention he had with the law had to do with those who were FORCING Gentiles to adopt the law to be counted as Christians. Yet the misunderstanding was so great that Paul needed ,it was felt, to show that he himself was not abandoning the law.

22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

The goal of these elders was to maintain the peace between Paul and Jewish believers and avoid conflict that would divide the church. This was not to accommodate those Jews outside the church who would have rejected even a law keeping Christian as they rejected even the idea of Jesus as Messiah and God.

23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

Paul was to show his unity with the other Jewish believers by showing his participation with and provision for these Jewish customs by undergoing purification rites and paying the expenses for others to also join in these customs. This would discredit the idea that Paul opposed the keeping of the law by Jews who trusted in Christ.

25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."

This line clarifies that Paul and the Jewish Church's keeping of the law was their own practice in identifying with the people of Israel and was by no means to be a command to all non-Jewish believers. The previous decrees of the council would suffice for the Gentiles. There are times when the church will practice one thing at one place and not at another and these practices where they do not oppose Scripture, do not likewise bind the whole church or the church at all times and places.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

Paul takes no exception to this suggestion and complies. This however places him in reach of those whose violence toward him is already predetermined and not at all deterred by his keeping of the Law.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,

It was not the Jerusalem Jews who had been living in relative peace with the Christians at Jerusalem who stirred up the crowd but Jews from the very regions outside of Jerusalem where Paul had been preaching and whose brethren has caused Paul trouble and chased him from city to city.

28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Their grudge against Paul was so great that they set out to draw others into it calling on the Jews at Jerusalem to join them in their attack on Paul. Taking the occasion of the controversy surrounding Pauls teaching which he had just sought to correct.

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

They also added to their slander an assumption that Paul had brought a gentile companion to the temple, even though there was no evidence of this. People are often quick when it suits their anger and grudge to assume that an enemy is doing wrong when the evidence is circumstantial. An unpopular Pastor with a glass of wine at dinner must be a drunk in their eyes. A Christian's firing of an incompetent employee who has a homosexual partner must be motivated by hate. Your neighbor's choice to mow the lawn while you're napping must be an attempt to aggravate you. Etc.

30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

Their rage succeeded in provoking a crowd to violence against a man who they did not know except by reputation and drive them to seek to kill him without investigation or trial. Rage is quick to judge and slow to discern right action.

31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Ironically it is the ungodly Romans, neither Jew nor Christian who must maintain order. God will use the ungodly as tools in His hand when necessary. This is the purpose of civil government.

32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Fear for their own safety and realization that their own actions would not stand justified by the civil law the rioters are stopped in their rage by soldiers where their own reason could not stop them.

33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.

Assuming Paul to be a criminal of at least some sort to justify the crowd's treatment of Him, Paul is arrested.

34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

Their case against Paul was so unsure as they had no real cause for their hatred that Paul's arrest becomes more for his safety and civil order than for any punishment for any crime of Paul's doing.

35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

The mob's anger is not reduced making it necessary for the soldiers to carry him to be able to enter the barracks. The people's violence had not abated with a simple arrest. Rage and hatred is seldom satisfied with anything short of Blood. Christian, realized that we too can be tempted to unconsidered rage against an enemy and to actions that seek an enemy's destruction rather than his redemption. We should always be mindful that While we were yet enemies of God, and sinners, Christ died violently at our hands so that we could be redeemed, even, while he possessed all the power necessary to destroy any and all of us were that His will. God worked for our protection and redemption not for our destruction, such is His Grace. Dare we neglect such a salvation.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,

Mark

Newsletter

Renewing the Mind...

We live among people, or maybe we hold this opinion ourselves, believing that our religious faith is simply a choice among many. You will hear people say It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere and do good. They will say that a person's private faith is irrelevant as long as his public actions benefit others and avoid doing harm. Yet scripture calls us to a different kind of faith. One that gets us branded as radicals, intolerant and immovable, stubborn and ...did I say already...intolerant.

Listen to Romans 12:2 and consider if you can keep your faith and tolerate everything.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

People love to quote back Jesus' words "Judge not, lest ye be judged." yet what about this renewing the mind stuff?

Your faith is not a set pattern of activities and "right answers" for use on Sunday only. Your faith and your growing understanding of God's will revealed in Scripture will affect how you think about.

Lying,

Stealing,

Poverty,

Death,

Immigration,

Life,

Music,

Art,

Happiness,

Gambling,

Prayer,

Sex,

Marriage,

Love,

Globalization,

Food,

Public Policy,

Clothing

Healthcare,

War,

Peace,

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Shopping

Adult Stem Cell Research

Religion,

Money,

Politics,

Gossip,

Can I go on...

The point is as you read each of these words, Notice, I have not told you how to believe concerning each thing. The fact is you must come to believe something concerning these things and any and all others not listed and it must, if you would be "renewed in your mind" ,come into agreement, ( I like the Catholic word, Communion) with your faith.

We are then told that when we do this we will "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This will make you intolerant...not mean, not un-loving, not violent...just intolerant, unwilling to accept the "goodness" of those positions and behaviors contrary to the new pattern of God's Kingdom and it's citizens. It will also, in Love, make you sorrowful and unwilling to allow others continue to live in any world inferior to God's Kingdom and Christ's family at least without having made an informed choice.

We are not Christians to be successful in the world. We are Christians because we believe Christ has overcome the world.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

--
May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only.  Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family.  Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

No Images

I emailed a post about the Holocaust and I'm Pretty sure the images didn't come through. It's a shame though. I really wanted you to see them. Nothing gruesome, just a good point.
Sorry to all. If I can find them I'll post.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Fwd: Never Forget

In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. Then read the
comments at the end.

I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll
consider doing the same.
In Memoriam

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe
ended This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the
six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900
Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved
and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other
way!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, claiming the
Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never
forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it
around the world.

Please send this e-mail to 10 people you know and ask them to continue
the memorial chain.
Please don't just delete it.

It will only take you a minute
________________________________

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

A Biblical and Balanced Ministry.

Recently The Session decided that in the next few months, together
with an assessment of my ministry, they would also like to do an
assessment of our church's ministry. We'll be producing a
questionnaire to help our session determine how our congregation may
strengthen our ministries. A friend of mine sent me a great article
about being a Biblical, Christ-First Church, as opposed to a People
Pleasing "Me-First" Church. This is essential as we assess any
ministry because as Christ's own people we want to be people who bring
HIM glory and are faithful to HIS calling. When we do this we will not
always be as "comfortable" as we might wish, but we will be Faithful,
Filled with Worship, and Ultimately Joy. In Short a Real Church. Not
A religious organization.
Check these out. I am grateful to Jim "the Old Gray Dog" Tuckett for
sending this.
Nine Criteria for a Christ-First Church
 CRITERIA 1:  The centrality of the Bible as the infallible Word of God.
"Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and
to teaching"
1 Timothy 4:13

CRITERIA 2:  The centrality of Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
"And God placed all things under His (Jesus') feet and appointed Him
to be head over everything for the church"
Ephesians 1:22

CRITERIA 3:  Scripture-centered, God-centered, Christ-centered worship.
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.   Sing
and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God
the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Ephesians 5:19-20

CRITERIA 4:  Authentic, meaningful fellowship and community.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common…They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts"
Acts 2:44-46

CRITERIA 5:  Sound and mature leadership.
"Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in
faith and in purity"
1 Timothy 4:12

 "Watch your life and doctrine closely.   Persevere in them, because
if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers"
1 Timothy 4:16

 CRITERIA 6:  Ongoing training in the Christian walk.
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach
others"
II Timothy 2:2

CRITERIA 7:  Opportunities for every person to serve.
"It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to
be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's
people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up"
Ephesians 4:11-12

CRITERIA 8:  A heart of prayer.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in
authority…"
I Timothy 2:1-2

CRITERIA 9:  An outward focus.
"…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you"
Matthew 28:19-20...

     There are five key questions the leadership of every congregation
should ask about its ministries:

             1.   Does it help people to see their sinfulness and need
for salvation?
             2.   Does it help people see that God is sovereign and
has a wonderful plan for their lives?
             3.   Does it help people see that Jesus Christ died for
their sins; that He paid the full price for their salvation?
             4.   Does it help people see the trustworthiness of God's
irresistible grace . . . to lead them to the good works for which they
were created; to convict them of their sin; to strengthen them when
they become weak or weary?
             5.   Does it help people see they are eternally secure in Christ?

As you examine our church's ministry, my role in it, as well as yours,
keep these Scriptures and questions in mind, and help us become the
church and people God is calling us together to be.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Re: Bridgeville Shootings and Limited Atonement

Someone caught my Calvinism slipping...This is what Blogs and responses are for.

A friend, Brother in Christ and colleague responded to my last post with the quoted text below.  The quotation from Spurgeon is worth reading.

In the text I made the theological misstatement that "He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True."

My friend adds

    "Not true.  He paid the price for those chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world.  Failure to understand this point has misled millions."

My response: Fair enough.  I cannot debate the truth that Christ's atonement is efficient only for the elect. The shooter was perhaps confident either in a Christian Universalism (that in Christ everyone is saved) or in his own belief that Christ's atonement was effective for HIS every sin.  In that sense he believed in the effectiveness of Christ's death to cover any sin no matter how grievous.  This is true.

 However, his actions do not demonstrate his regeneration sufficiently to give us confidence in his inclusion among the elect.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
    

"On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 11:59 AM, (Email deleted) wrote:

    In a message dated 8/5/2009 8:30:46 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, (this author) writes:

        The Shooter at the Bridgeville LA Fitness wrote on his Blog, prior to the shootings.

        "Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."

        I will not post the link because I will not subject others to this man's evil.  The quote above was mentioned on the news and that is sufficient to make the point.

        Why do I blog this.  Because it so struck me when I heard it on Fox News This Morning that I had to comment.  Obviously this person had some facts right but chose to abuse grace. 

    Obviously.
    
    What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
    Rom. 6: 1-2



        He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True.

    Not true.  He paid the price for those chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world.  Failure to understand this point has misled millions.
    

    Christ's Limited Atonement
    Charles Spurgeon


            Some persons love the doctrine of universal atonement because they say, "It is so beautiful. It is a lovely idea that Christ should have died for all men; it commends itself," they say, "to the instincts of humanity; there is something in it full of joy and beauty." I admit there is, but beauty may be often associated with falsehood. There is much which I might admire in the
    theory of universal redemption, but I will just show what the supposition necessarily involves. If Christ on His cross intended to save every man, then He intended to save those who were lost before He died. If the doctrine be true, that He died for all men, then He died for some who were in hell before He came into this world, for doubtless there were even then myriads there who had been cast away because of their sins.

            Once again, if it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood. That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences which are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption.

           To think that my Savior died for men who were or are in hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain. To imagine for a moment that He was the Substitute for all the sons of men, and that God, having first punished the Substitute, afterwards punished the sinners themselves, seems to conflict with all my ideas of divine justice. That Christ should offer an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that afterwards some of those very men should be punished for the sins for which Christ had already atoned, appears to me to be the most monstrous iniquity that could ever have been imputed to Saturn, to Janus, to the goddess of the Thugs, or to the most diabolical heathen deities. God forbid that we should ever think thus of Jehovah, the just and wise and good!
           There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer-I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it. But far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views. Most atrocious things have been spoken about the character and spiritual condition of John Wesley, the modern prince of Arminians. I can only say concerning him that, while I detest many of the doctrines which he preached, yet for the man himself I have a reverence second to no Wesleyan; and if there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitefield and John Wesley. The character of John Wesley stands beyond all imputation for self-sacrifice, zeal, holiness, and communion with God; he lived far above the ordinary level of common Christians, and was one "of whom the world was not worthy." I believe there are multitudes of men who cannot see these truths, or, at least, cannot see them in the way in which we put them, who nevertheless have received Christ as their Savior, and are as dear to the heart of the God of grace as the soundest Calvinist in or out of heaven.

     I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours."

Bridgeville Shootings (edited from original)

Some thoughts on last night's Bridgeville PA shootings  (a few miles from my home).

The Shooter at the Bridgeville LA Fitness wrote on his Blog, prior to the shootings.

"Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."

I will not post the link because I will not subject others to this man's evil.  The quote above was mentioned on the news and that is sufficient to make the point.

Why do I blog this.  Because it so struck me when I heard it on Fox News This Morning that I had to comment.  Obviously this person had some facts right but chose to abuse grace. 

He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True in the sense that Christ's death is sufficient to cover any sin no matter how grievous.

Eternal life Does not depend on works...True.

However where he missed the point is that what we receive if we are truly in Christ is a regenerated Spirit where we are truly repentant of Sin and seek to avoid sin at whatever the cost.  There is no repentant heart in the shooter's writings.  The is a premeditated willingness to do others harm, to take life of those who had offended him by their very existence.  There is a self absorbed focus on what he was not getting from others (women).  None of these give us an confidence in this man's regenerated condition. 

He misses the commandment of Luke 6: 27-37

 ²⁷"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 ³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 ³⁷"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 

He finds freedom in disregarding human judgment yet disregards the requirement to forgive.  Even if all women everywhere had harmed him, he (as it is with the rest of us) is required to forgive just as he has been forgiven.

To believe you can commit premeditated mass murder and still hope for heave in to abuse Grace.  While we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone and not by works, even forgiveness of our enemies,  the evidence of our conversion (faith) is found in our ongoing pursuit of a life obedient to God's word.  We cannot do whatever we wish and expect grace to cover it. 

I know some might say, "Are you saying he's in Hell."  It is never mine to say.  That subject now, since he took his own life, is in God's hands.  What I am saying is we have no way to be certain that he is in heaven as his life did not demonstrate the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. To say it another way, if you wish those you leave behind to have confidence in your salvation, your life must show the transforming work of Christ.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Ten Percent

Written a few weeks ago, just posting now.
Last night I had one of those events in ministry that falls into the ten percent category. As a pastor those events generally are invisible because many times they are at odd hours and are confidential. They only show up on a session report as something like "hospital visit:1" Why I call them the ten percent is because about ninety percent of what I do seems easy, sometimes, to me, too easy. Yet occasionally something comes alone, the one event in ten that really uses every last drop of my training, and pushes the limits of both talent and faith. Yet these are the events that also make ministry worthwhile. Sure preaching and worship is enjoyable, working with youth almost makes me feel guilty for how much fun it is, and who else gets the freedom to study God's Word, read great writers, and enjoy times of fellowship. But these challenging times, they are the ones that make me remember why I took this career in the first place and didn't just go for a nine to five with (hopefully) a dental plan.

Likewise, you too may see life in certain seasons as a daily grind and an exercise in endurance. Even, from time to time you walk with God may become routine, even if "his mercies are new every morning." Yet there are those ten percent events where God uses you that remind you truly of the privilege of your calling, and God's Amazing grace that carries you through.

When you are deep in the ninety percent...remember... that "ten" is just around the corner.

Be Blessed. Be ready. Find Joy.

I'm going to ditch office hours now and take a nap. Leave a message...and my cell phone's on if it's really important.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

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--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

When Losing Isn't...

The Purpose of the Shepherd's Path, my monthly column is to let you in on a little secret: Ready...Pastors are people. Shocking I know. As a result we bring to our profession, or calling, as you may choose, the same struggles, hopes, joys, fears etc. as anyone else brings to theirs. The purpose of this column or Blog if you read it on the Web is to be a bit of an open journal into my own walk along the Shepherd's Path, that is, living day to day following Jesus our Good Shepherd.

As such I've been thinking about losing. Pittsburgh is the City of Champions. I learned this in Kindergarten in 1979 and my kids are learning it in 2009. Whether its the Stanley Cup, the SuperBowl or softball, we like to win and conversely hate to lose. Yet there are times when we do lose. We can lose big, like losing a job or a spouse or a significant relationship or we can lose smaller things like an argument or a debate, or our car keys.

But as much as we like to win there are times when losing isn't losing. You do not lose when you keep what is essential. I'll give you an example. There times in a pastor's life when debate is essential. Whether it is a proposal before presbytery or an unfortunate turn in a conversation about ones faith. I've lost quite a few debates in my life. The proposal I'm looking to see defeated passes, The person attacking my faith in Jesus and insisting on their own brand of religion as the one true church or pressing the case for no God at all outmaneuvers me and leaves me with no good response. Now an hour or a day later I might think of the perfect response but its too late I've lost. I knew the right answer but couldn't produce it when it counted. Yet really I didn't lose. Maybe I was embarrassed but I still hold my faith intact. All the opposition proved was they were more skilled in debate than I which is not difficult to prove. A bully might be able to clear the playground but that doesn't change the deed to the park. What is essential, my faith, remains.

You might lose an argument, again it doesn't prove you were wrong. Maybe you were missing a fact or two that could have proven your case or maybe you simply were ambushed and in your own way chose not to fight back with the same tactics as the other person. They are not right, just...louder. And you kept your integrity intact. Not returning evil for evil... sounds like advice from someone I know.

Losing a job or relationship can not be an ultimate loss if it does not diminish who you are. Finances might suffer in either case and you may miss the benefits of either but you my friend are much more than a position or a part of a couple. You are always a child of God and are always significant.

The fact remains if you lose you may grieve, you may feel sorrow, but do not let what is Rock Solid be shaken, those things you know to be true from the word of God: The truth that in Christ, you are God's own favorite (not like “better than another” but as in “favorite of the king”, recipient of favor and grace). Never let a loss be a total loss.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Glad to be Back

The School of Evangelism...

As most of you know I spent the first part of the twelve days I took off for Study Leave and Vacation, attending the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Asheville North Carolina. I want to thank the congregation of this church for the opportunity you give me through giving me leave and funds for that event as well as vacation time as part of my terms of call. I truly appreciate it. While the setting of “The Cove” in Asheville was beautiful, quiet, and restful, the teaching was dynamic and almost overwhelming. The conference was three days starting at 7 PM Monday then Full days, 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday and Wednesday. By Wednesday Afternoon I was ready to come back to work to have an easier schedule. In addition to the great teaching though they also gave us a stack of books and even a curriculum that PJ will be looking at with Christian Ed for use with “Tweens” (Youth aged 9-14). The full curriculum itself was worth more than twice what you paid for registration.

While I didn't necessarily “learn” anything new and life altering, I was powerfully reminded of some very important things that I needed for ministry here. You too might need them so I'll share them here. There are five and unfortunately they do not lend themselves to any easily memorizable formula. But I hope you find some or all of them helpful as you pursue your own walk with Jesus and your calling to use your gifts in service to God and neighbors.

1.God is glad in your presence.

One of the challenges of wanting to serve God is that you always see so much that needs to be done and never feel like you are doing enough. Let this attitude go too far and you might even feel like just a part of a crowd where God is the star who you can say you went to see in concert but who of course never knew or cared that you were there. The first night I was reminded that the Gospel is that Jesus died and rose so that he could personally welcome you, into his family. YOU matter to God and He is glad you are his. He is also Glad when you come to worship, pray, read scripture, sing or otherwise draw near to Him. Scripture says “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Keep the Gospel First

In Various places around “the Cove” you see the motto of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “Always Good News”. In our desire to see our church grow and to see our people happy we often try to do all things and be all things to everyone to be a “full service” church. Those things which we do, our “programs” are good things, when they serve the main purpose of the church: Telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping them be effective and growing followers of Him. Our drive is not to please all people but to make sure everyone we encounter has the opportunity to hear about Jesus and to have the help, shelter, and equipping they need to follow Him, and the encouragement and opportunity to make disciples themselves.

Pray

Everything that the Billy Graham team does in all its ministries is begun, carried out, and ended with prayer and praise. I even over heard the shuttle bus drivers talking about a morning prayer meeting. Every member of the team is praying and is prayed for. I am reminded of the saying ”You cannot do more than pray, until you have prayed.” I look forward to increasing in our church opportunities for prayer and emphasizing the importance of this part of our life with Jesus.

Don't Do Life on Your Own
Scripture says “No man can serve two masters”. While Jesus was talking about serving God and Money, I believe it also applies to God and self. Tied into the need for prayer and God's Joy in our presence is the fact that we were never meant to make it on our own. For me that means Stop working to remake the life I want and start enjoying the life God has given me at this stage. It means I cannot recreate the home and ministry I had in Kansas here in Oakdale, but I can discover and enjoy the life an ministry God has given us now. Also it means that with prayer I am free to do those things which God directs to be done and stop trying to do what I think I should be doing to be like someone else. We cannot force life to happen the way we want and we can be so busy trying that we miss the open doors God is showing us.

Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit

Cliff Barrows, 80, the youngest of the original Billy Graham team( Billy, 90; George Beverly Shea, 100; and Cliff) spoke the last night. He told of their early days and the lessons they learned and the principles they applied over the years to their ministry. The story I got the most from was the story he told of the night in London when They visited another minister who shared with them a Bible study from John 13, 14, and 15, about the Holy Spirit. After they prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit everything changed for their ministry. That was when they began to see the thousands come to Jesus that we associate with Billy Graham crusades. It is not about us, it is about God working through us.

Surrender

Finally, the call of following Jesus is not one of commitment to Jesus but one of complete surrender. We are to belong to Him and let nothing remain our own. We do not surrender to other's demands, our wants, the world's priorities, or even the church as an institution. We live in such a way as to say “yes” when we hear the Lord saying “Go” or “Do”. We do so with the assurance that in some way or another, miraculously or through on of God's many tools, (His church being a key part) Things will work out even when they look impossible. For “ we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

National Day of Prayer

Just some random thoughts and prayers today...

It's easy to blog and gripe about our Nation. The News is depressing and fearful. Leaders seem to be pushing their own agendas and abandoning the true good of all the people. Yet today is the day for putting complaining aside and PRAYING; entrusting the care of our nation, her people, her leaders, to almighty God who is our only real and true confidence.

What makes us a unique nation is our rule of law. We are ruled by a constitution written by people whose principles were shaped by a belief long held and too soon forgotten in absolute truth and right and wrong...good and evil. They saw God as the final arbiter of these things and sought to create a necessary government that would protect human freedom, promote good and restrain evil.

True there were and are still, sins to be confessed. Slavery was thought a beneficial institution for both slave and free, this was wrong. We believed we had a right to empire and ambition and pursued this carelessly. We confess these things but cannot abandon the foundations of our nation for the improper way her people have chosen in the past.

Sins past must be forgiven and reconciled and like the Nation which forgot it's book of the Law, must return to her God with all her heart and seek to live in righteousness from this day forward.

I ask especially for guidance for our president Barack Obama, our congress and Judges. Men's hearts may only be changed and directed by the Holy Spirit to do what is right if You O God work to transform hearts of Stone to hearts of flesh. May even our hearts that are in transformation be changed all the faster so that the flinty portions which harbor our sinful ways and our untrue beliefs may be melted and conformed to God's truth.

Can we love and care for the poor and also allow the successful who succeed by good work and God's blessing to continue in success without punishment? Can a way be found to do that? Can we permit free speech and open debate and only silence opposition by the weight of good arguments and facts? Not with heavy handed bullying and control. Can we do that? Can we protect unborn lives and born ones as well? Can we love those who are wrong, not reward evil, but give grace and freedom?

You alone know, God. With you nothing is impossible. Change hearts. Deal with evil righteously.

We know all human government is provisional and necessary in your providence until your kingdom comes. May we use the blessings of our liberty to call as many as will hear to welcome your kingdom. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Sanitized...

“There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver the conscience into bondage.”
John Witherspoon

[John Witherspoon (February 15, 1723 – November 15, 1794) was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. He was both the only active clergyman and college president to sign the Declaration. ]

For a soldier's uniform to be “sanitized” it is not washed in bleach or any other germ killing cleansers. A “sanitized” uniform is one that is stripped of any and all reference to anything that would identify the origin of that soldier. In the book by Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger , the special operations troops fighting the drug cartels wear “sanitized” uniforms to aid in confusing their enemies and to allow the government to deny knowledge of the operation.

Christians are increasingly being “sanitized” as well. We can do what we do as long as any reference to the king we serve is removed or covered. Hide the cross. Remove scripture references. Don't let on that it is because of Jesus that we have the good things we enjoy, the institutions we have built, or the services we use. Recently I read an article about chaplains in the Armed forces of the united states being told to pray but to pray without using Jesus' name. We would never require a Muslim chaplain to eschew the name of Allah. And while it may be argued that Allah is simply Arabic for the generic term, God, For the Christian to refuse to pray in Jesus name is to deny the very reason we can pray in the first place. We do not pray on our own merit, because God has to hear us, or because our clergy are sanctified and made clean to enter the presence of God. We can pray because we are all made clean by the blood of Jesus, purchasing forgiveness of sins and giving us free access to the “throne of grace.” To pray in any other name or no name at all, is to deny the very source of our ability to pray.

Now I will admit it is perhaps fair to submit to some “sanitization.” Sometimes going and doing what we do without waving a banner will gain us access to those who might not hear the gospel. But this is not true sanitization, but more like discretion. When it counts, when the opportunity arises, or when it is necessary to do what we are doing, we unashamedly and clearly share the gospel. But again this is at our discretion and led by the Holy Spirit. It is recognizing that to certain audiences the name of Jesus must be introduced after we have shown that Jesus and his people (most often his people) can be trusted.

We cannot however willingly allow ourselves to be bullied, legislated, or otherwise made to silence the name of Jesus from our lips. When we abandon the freedom to declare the source of our freedom, we abandon any hope of retaining our own clear conscience, that we might live as Christians.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,
Mark

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To Be enough...

To get right to the point. God's name is I AM.

As I sit in the office this morning I am struck by all of the things I want, the world seems to want, and where God fits. It seems to me that God's name says it all, I Am. I spend an awful lot of time worrying about how to get what I want, and yet God seems to want nothing. God needs nothing in the sense that God is all and self sufficient. God IS, pure and simple.
But God also chose, mysteriously, to make a covenant, a contract, that included me. This contract makes me want to please God, not to live up to my end of the contract, since my end was met by Jesus, but because I love God.
Problem is there are an awful lot of things I think might please God. One of which is that there are people who need to know God's love, hear the good news of Jesus, and be equipped to be His disciples.
In the past few weeks I've seen more than the usual number of people who need what the Church, and I, as part of that church, can offer. Hurting people, lost people, clueless people, people who, like me would be terrified if they slowed down long enough to wonder where they fit.
On top of all of this is the fear I have of not being enough. Those people need a pastor and a church that will meet their needs. They need worship that will not entertain but welcome them into the real presence of God present in Word and sacrament. They need friendships in the congregation who will draw them close, lift up, challenge, and sharpen them. They need opportunities to make a real difference in their world. Can I... can we be enough.
No we can't...but God is. We need to slow down enough and give God enough of our attention to hear where we fit and what we must do so that we can be enough in our own small part to be the means God uses to be all in all to them.
Take some time today. Slow down. sit down... or kneel if the knees allow, and listen. What do you hear?
In Christ and on the shepherd's path,
Mark

TULIP?

A member of our church asked me "What is TULIP."

TULIP is an acronym for five doctrines of the reformed (calvinist and Presbyterian) church. It is a summary of Biblical teaching on several subjects including Sin, God's sovereignty, Grace, and salvation.

TULIP stands for:

Total Depravity- Human beings are totally lost and incapable of doing anything to aid in their own salvation. We are sin Dead, not merely weak or sick. No good that we do is good enough to earn God's favor and therefore we are in need of a savior. Whatever we choose to do with our "free will" we can do nothing to be "good enough for salvation.

Unconditional election- With no merit of our own God none the less chose a people for himself to demonstrate his grace and glory. This is first demonstrated in God choosing Noah, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all of Israel, and then electing both Jews and gentiles for salvation in Jesus Christ. God does this not out of consideration for anything we have done but only by His own free grace. Nothing we do forces God's hand to make him save us.

Limited atonement- This is where most people stumble if they haven't already. The benefit of Christ's death on the cross was only for the elect (saved) not for all. Consider the alternatives Jesus died for all and not just the elect. Then either All are saved which would deny any teaching of the Bible on Hell, or All are not saved and God is unjust exacting from some the same penalty twice (once on Christ and once on the person himself) and a person's salvation is left in their own hands not in God's But that would make us only partially depraved and not "sin dead".

Irresistible grace- The elect are incapable of doing anything to ultimately resist God's power to save them should God elect them. The effect of this is we can be sure that since we contributed nothing to our salvation we can do nothing to lose it.

Perseverance of the saints- Our final assurance is found in the truth that since we did nothing to earn grace, and can do nothing to lose it, that all who are truly elect will persevere in faith to the end and beyond, and will do such works including obedience to God, by the power given to us by the Holy Spirit that demonstrate that we are in fact the elect people of God.

Why this matters. Belief in TULIP has several effects. Remember this is a doctrine to help us understand biblical teaching and for the assurance of the elect, not a means to bar anyone from entering the church. We are to proclaim the good news of salvation to all, that the elect may come to know the joy of knowing their security in Christ. Effects of TULIP include.

Security- A believer may not fear that he will not merit salvation because she or he doesn't. It is a free gift to be received. A believer may not fear that he or she will lose salvation since grace is irresistible and in Christ we persevere. We also can experience forgiveness for mistakes, knowing we are secure in God.

Evangelism- Opponents of TULIP say if we believe these things we will not evangelize since salvation is in God's power of election or (often incorrectly called and understood) predestination and it matters not what we do. This is false for two reasons. First, Means. God uses certain means to call the elect to himself. The ordinary means God has chosen of a sinner coming to know he or she is an elect saint of God is through the preaching of the gospel. God has power to use other means certainly, but the bible has revealed that the ordinary means is from one believer to another. Second, Obedience. Jesus told us to proclaim the gospel. Who are we to say no, even if we believe it is all in God's hands.

Worship- If salvation is entirely ultimately in God's hands then our worship is magnified. We are more grateful and give more glory to God alone for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. There is no smugness or superiority that has us looking at the lost and saying "I'm glad I was smarter than them and came to Jesus." There is only pity for those outside and the compassionate hope that they too will come to receive what we have since we were once like them. Our worship is then focused on God and his Glory and especially His grace.

Boldness. Since the salvation of others is in God's hand and not ours we can share the good news boldly without fear that a person will be lost for our stumbling words, lack of skill or creativity or inability to be there for them all. The lost (Called the reprobate) will be lost for their sin alone and the saved (elect) will be won by the Holy Spirit working through our words and example, no matter how feeble.


Hope this helps.

In Christ,
Mark

Have we got something worth doing?

Last Month I wrote to you about keeping our eyes focused on the “main thing”. Recently I've been reading in both the Gospel of John as well as some of Johns Letters. What I discovered this morning sheds some light on who we are as a church and some of the vision to which we are called. Look at 1st John 1: 1-7
The Word of Life
 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
Walking in the light
 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

These are the words of John, the Apostle, but also John the beloved disciple who walked with Jesus. John, who was with Jesus at the cross and was given the task of caring for Mark Jesus' mother as Jesus was dying. A side note: John was not simply needed to care for Mary as Jesus was dying, since he would rise again, but also in preparation for Jesus ascension when he as Mary's son could not be there to take care of his widowed mother.

Anyway, this John, writes the words you just read to the early church, giving them his thoughtful summary years after the fact of what it meant to have walked with Jesus. No talk of miracles or sublime moments of prayer. No words about epiphanies hearing Jesus teach the Word to them. Just a simple summary of what Jesus means to the World.

Go back and read his words again...
He gives his account that this is what he saw, felt and experienced. Not academic theology but experience of walking with Jesus, and yet this walk leads him to conclude that Jesus is Life. He also says that he is sharing it with them for a purpose. Not to make them “get right with God.” Not to “make the world a better place.” Not to “save sinners”. Even though all of these things are wonderful side effects.

He shares his account so that The joy of the believers might be complete, seeing those outside now “have fellowship” with us joining with us in the fellowship we have with God the Father and with Jesus the Son. Surely we are forgiven. Surely we live better lives. Surely we make the world a better place. But best of all we walk with God and invite others to ENJOY that too.

Now, do we have something worth doing?

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

When All seems Lost

Acts 12: 1-18 Exposition

* It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.

These arrests occurred as the persecution increased following Stephen's death. Jesus had spoken of the enmity the church would experience with the world. Persecution is not in itself a sign of being the true church as some sects would argue. The Latter Day Saints (Mormons) assert that they are the true church and give as partial evidence the persecution they have received. Yet a religious group can simply be wrong in its belief or conduct and find itself subject to rebuke, distrust, and even depending on the law in place in a time or place, arrest and punishment. This is not persecution. Yet believers at the same time should not be surprised when they are persecuted. See Matthew 5:10-12. Even if our doctrine and conduct are pure, we will find that the world that stands apart from God will only tolerate us so far as we please them and will seek to destroy us when we cease to amuse or serve their purposes.

* 2.
* He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

James, an important leader of the church at Jerusalem fell victim to this persecution. Just as believers are not immune to persecution, particularly important or exemplary leaders are especially targets.

* 3.
* When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Herod set out to please the Jews with whom he had little popularity. The Herods ruled by cruelty and by Roman mandate and were considered illegitimate kings by the Jews. In an attempt to boost his popularity he makes a sport of dealing in justice. The hand of the ruler is to be guided by justice and ultimately by God and not by what may bring pleasure to the people or an increase in power. Herod used human life to gain advantage for himself. He chose as the time for this the feast of unleavened bread, the Passover, the same feast in which Christ himself was arrested and executed before.

* 4.
* After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Avoiding chaos during the feast he had Peter held over for trail after the feast. This important prisoner was placed under what seems a rather extensive guard for a non violent offender.

* 5.
* So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The turning point comes as Peter is held without any likelihood of escape, yet, as we are called to do, the church prays to God on Peter's behalf; "earnestly" so, not out of compulsion or in a cursory manner, but with sincerity and zeal.

* 6.
* The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

Again we see Peter under a guard that precludes any imagination of escape.

* 7.
* Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

Got often uses natural means in his work but yet will still when he desires, and for his own glory, use supernatural means for His Work. I hesitate to call Angels supernatural however, since they are, according to the Word of God, God messengers, created beings serving God's purposes and while certainly uncommon to our experience or perception, are not doing here anything other than that which God created them to do. Angelic work may be unusual, even seemingly rare, but it is "normal" in this sense. God's sovereign control over the order of things is established as while the angel speaks the chains fall off without so much as a touch, or so this account would indicate, one does not need this to be supernatural to Glorify God in that Peter, who is hopelessly bound is set free.

* 8.
* Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9.
* Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.

As this experience was out of Peter's normal experience and expectation he believed it to be a vision, as this was something he had previously experienced. Yet as with a vision he obeyed and followed.

* 10.
* They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.* 11.
* Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

Having followed the Angel from the prison, past all of the guards and out of the locked gate, Peter, found himself truly released. He immediately Glorifies God (The Lord) having realized the true source of His freedom.

* 12.
* When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Now freed he proceeds to the house of some friends and fellow believers. All there had gathered to pray, presumably, among their prayers was the subject of Peter himself.

* 13.
* Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. * 14 * When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"* 15. * "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

It is funny that when we pray our expectation of God's answering is so weak that we will not comprehend when we are told that our prayer has been answered. We should be instructed by this to truly live in expectation of answered prayer, knowing that God is not merely able but willing to answer our prayers. Here the gathered believers leave Peter standing outside in their inability to believe in his deliverance from the prison. They even take to speculation regarding what the girl saw and heard rather than take the simplest answer to be the right one, that is, she is telling the truth.

* 16.
* But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Peter persists until it is impossible for them to disbelieve and they admit him. Again, they are "astonished" to see their prayers answered. This is not to their condemnation but to the glory of God who can and will accomplish what is astonishing and even unbelievable to us.

* 17.
* Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

Peter shares the account as reported above, complete, since it has been recorded this way, with Peter's own disbelief and assumption that his experience was a vision to good to be real. In this way I believe we are assured that our struggles to believe point to both our own natural weakness and God's incredible greatness. We cannot marvel that we struggle to believe since the works of God are so staggering in their greatness. In the end we simply believe and stand in awe.
Peter instructs them to tell the account to James, Not John's brother of course, as mentioned in verse 2, but likely James the brother of Jesus, another of the leaders at Jerusalem.

Mark 1:4-11

Mark 1:4-11

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9 The Baptism of Jesus


In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
NASU

Mark 1:4-11 Exposition

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Before Jesus Began his public ministry, John the baptist was preaching an baptizing in the wilderness. His purpose, as the text tells us in the verse previous, Mark 1:2 and 3 is to fulfill prophesy,

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

"BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"
NASU

His baptism was similar to the Jewish practice contemporary with his ministry of the mikvah bath which was a ceremonial washing by immersion. Johns baptism was an act done by those who heard his message and call for repentance in preparation for the coming messiah. John called the people to repentance, reminding them that they were unprepared for the “day of the Lord” and needed the forgiveness that God offered. Baptism was a sign of ones acceptance of this promise.

It is important to note that John's baptism was one of repentance where baptism either “in Jesus Name” (Acts 19:5) or “in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19) is a baptism not of preparation to receive the promise but a sign of identification with Jesus as Messiah and Lord.. (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, and by contrast 1 Corinthians 1:13.)

5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Certainly we are not to believe that everyone came to him for baptism but that seemingly everyone, a great number of people, sought out John to hear his message and were baptized by him after confessing their sins.

6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

Johns unique calling as well as his reliance on God in his ministry was marked by his strange and at the same time, simple, attire, and diet. He lived in the wilderness and wore coarse clothing rather than the finer showier vestments of the religious leaders of the day. People came out to him. He did not have to try to attract his audience. His diet of locusts and wild honey was a part of his reliance on God while in the wilderness, eating the food God in nature had provided, as given and not going out with plans and provisions. Johns ministry was one that was ordained by God and directed by God's leading and not John's calculated efforts to win the masses. Jesus would later contrast His style of ministry with John's, not to elevate one over the other but to show that no matter how one lived in obeying God those who oppose God's agenda will always criticize and ignore the message for their offense at the messenger. (Matthew 11:16-19)

7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

John knew his place as the herald of the Messiah. He knew that even as his reputation was growing he would worthy of no praise when compared with the Messiah to come. John Himself would attempt to refuse to baptize Jesus because of this, but Jesus would encourage Him to do it, affirming Johns message by submitting to Baptism by John. (Matthew 3:14 and 15)

8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Jesus superiority to John was no only in rank as Son of God compared with anointed messenger, but also in the gift he could give. John gave a sign of the promise of forgiveness. Jesus would give new life, a transformed nature, the indwelling Spirit of God, and the Spirit's own gifts and fruit equipping each recipient to live life as God intends. John's baptism, while important, pales by contrast; a fact that John readily admits.

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Leaving out John's refusal as I highlighted before. Mark simply related that Jesus came and was baptized. This sentence leads to the next and highlights Mark's purpose in demonstrating that Jesus is the one John had spoken about.

10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

Whether other witnesses saw this or not, it is clear that John did and it fulfilled a promise that God had communicated to John, namely it showed to John that Jesus was the promised one. The Gospel of John (John 1:29-34) lets us know that this act was John's confirmation of Jesus' identity.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, ' After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' 31 "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." 32 John testified saying, " I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
NASU

11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

The voice of God confirms the crux of our faith. Jesus is no mere teacher or good man or even superior prophet. He is the Son of God, worthy of our faith and worship. It is with this confirmation that Jesus begins his ministry.
NASU