Roll With the Change

There have been a ton of songs written about the idea of change. Back in the ‘60’s, the band The Byrds sang a song that said,

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

Over fifty years later in 2019, Post Malone sang,

seasons change and our love went cold

Change is inevitable. It’s going to happen, and happen, and happen, and happen…. Nothing we can do about it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Why am I talking about this you ask? Well, at 5:30 this morning I woke up to turn over (there’s an example of change, dang…) and as I was trying to go back to sleep it suddenly hit me, “ONE DAY I’LL BE IN THE LITERAL PRESENCE OF JESUS!” Out of the blue. I don’t know what made me think that, but I did. I’d like to tell you that my first reaction was “PRAISE GOD, I CAN’T WAIT!”

But it wasn’t.

Honestly, the thought freaked me out. Scared me a little. I’m not exactly sure why. You can completely trust me when I say I want to go to heaven. I want to hear Jesus say, “Well done. Welcome home.” It’s not a feeling of I’m not sure of my salvation or being sure of where I’m going. I believe in the Bible and what it tells me. It’s not any of that. I have no doubt that my eternal destination as a Christ follower is one day being in heaven in the presence of God. Jesus promised and I believe it (just check out John 14, verses 1-13 to be precise). The truth and promise of forever in and through Jesus isn’t the problem. The more I think about it, the more soul searching I do, it becomes more and more obvious.

I hate change.

As selfish and as petty as it may sound, the idea of things changing scares me a just a bit. Now, I don’t really want to get into the debate of it, partly because I myself can’t say for sure (which is another aggravation…), but I hate the idea of my relationship with my wife not being the same anymore. I love being Wendy’s husband. How she puts up with me sometimes is beyond me. Her patience and her love for me is a blessing that just blows me away. I know we are bonded by the blood of Christ as Christ followers first, and then married, but I hate the thought of how our relationship will change. I love my sons, and we are brothers in the Lord, but the thought of me not “really” being their father in heaven wrecks me a little. I Corinthians 13:12 says,

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.- I Corinthians 13:12

When I get to stand face to face with Jesus, I will know what it means to KNOW, if you know what I mean. The only thing that will matter is that I have known Him as my Savior and will experience forever because of Him. Because HE KNOWS ME. There won’t be any need to know Wendy and my sons like I did before, because being with Jesus is all that will matter. I’ll know them like I did before, but there won’t be any reason to know them that way anymore, if that makes sense. But yet, sometimes, I hate the thought of that. Really, I do.

I think the issue is I’m sometimes too comfortable here. I enjoy now. Instead of looking towards the future and my forever home, I enjoy THIS home too much, and the thought of change keeps me sometimes from thoughts of being with Jesus.

And that shouldn’t be.

I Peter 2:11 says,

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.- I Peter 2:11

When it comes right down to it, the real problem I have is that I’m sometimes half-heartedly fighting the war against my soul. Instead of living like I don’t belong here, I live too much like a native. There are so many times that my comfort here wins out over my future there. And that’s a problem.

I need to start doing more abstaining than I do maintaining. When I do, I’m going to be more restless wanting the change to come instead of being resistant to it. I think that’s what being an alien and stranger here is all about. Pray for me that I’ll seek more for God to relieve my resistance to change and I’ll just seek for more of Him. Pray for me that I’ll be less comfortable and more longing for my real home. Pray that I’ll look forward to my (and hopefully our) forever change.

And may it come quick…

CHURCH, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.- Proverbs 29:18

As we all watched what happened yesterday, we saw a lot of the first part of that scripture from the Old Testament in the Bible, but not really any of the second.  And should we be surprised?  Not at all.

It says in the New Testament, in II Timothy 4 that there’s going to come a time when men will not put up with sound doctrine and they’ll gather around them a bunch of people saying what their itching ears want to hear.  They’ll turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  We saw that yesterday, especially from those holding the flags and signs that had the name of Jesus on them.  It’s bad enough to turn away from the truth, but then you want to drag Him there with you.  And before you say I’m being judgmental, Jesus said by their fruit you’ll know them.  I think it’s fair to say there was a lot of rotten fruit in D.C. yesterday.  

Now, I’m not naïve enough to believe that everyone there yesterday were Christians, because there were a lot that weren’t and I’m not really writing to them.  I’m speaking to the sheep that decided to slip on wolves’ clothing and bust some stuff up in the name of one nation…. BUT WE CAN’T FORGET THAT THIS ONE NATION IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE UNDER GOD.  When the focus is more on the nation than the One the nation is under, we’re eventually going to run wild.  And that’s what we saw yesterday.

CHURCH, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?  I mean, come on, man.  Even Joe Biden said it yesterday as he walked off the podium after talking about what was going on.  When are we going to start standing up and keeping each other accountable?  If you’ve read the Bible, you know where the story’s going.  Things in this world are going to get worse before they get better.  Don’t you think that it’s time we begin following more divine guidance and letting God use us to be the difference instead of just trying to make a difference?  Yes, there were things done yesterday that made a difference in the moment of yesterday.  But all those things did were just hold up things that still took place later in the evening.  I believe God wants us to get on our knees and seek after Him, asking how we can truly BE the difference.  Sometimes I believe we fail to realize that when we’re being the difference, a difference is being made, and words and signs and broken-down doors aren’t really needed.  And that’s the kind of difference that lasts.

I completely understand the disappointment people can feel when an election doesn’t go their way or the disappointment when they feel the government doesn’t truly represent them.  I get even more the anger felt over racial injustice and the desperation over social issues and challenges.  There IS a time and place for us to loudly and strongly take a stand and make all of those things known.  But church, if we don’t ask God for the wisdom and discernment for how and when we demonstrate them (and yes, I did say demonstrate), then we’re going to continue to run wild and become more and more irrelevant.  

And when that happens, the name of Jesus is going to carry about as much weight as the sign or flag it’s written on.

Or are we already there?  And should we be surprised?

TAX DAY!

To say that what we’re going through right now is unprecedented, or even crazy, is an understatement. In all honesty it’s kind of become our normal right now. Because of this, so many of the things we usually expect are being handled differently. Some utilities, loans, and a lot of other financial concerns are being alleviated for a period of time. One of the those things is today, TAX DAY! The date to submit your taxes was moved from today, April 15, to July 15. For those of you who haven’t yet turned in your taxes, you’ve been shown some grace. This got me thinking…

In light of this past Sunday, Easter Sunday, I got thinking about what was accomplished for us through Jesus. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8). Not only did Jesus die, but He was buried, then rose from the dead. This is the Gospel, the reason we exist as Christ followers and as the church. But, here’s what we need to understand. Hebrews 9:15 says,

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.- Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

In the Old Testament, once a year the high priest would annually perform a sacrifice to push back the guilt and debt of their sin. Doing this reconciled, or made the people right in the eyes of God for the next year until the priest would do it again. While this pushed back the people’s spiritual debt to God, it didn't get rid of the debt. This wasn’t good enough for God, so He decided to do for the people, for us, what we could never do for ourselves. HE PAID THE DEBT FOR OUR SIN! And He did it through Jesus. Since God paid this ransom for us we can now live set free from the sin that has separated us from God. No more guilt, no more struggles with being good enough, and no more carrying a debt we can’t repay. WE ARE FREE!

I thank God everyday for the grace that He has shown me by paying what I could never afford. My prayer is that you will one day allow Him to pay YOUR debt and set you free. You’ll be amazed by what you didn't realize you were missing…

Stations of the Cross DAY 5- Devotional Thoughts for the Week Leading to Easter

Here are the last two stations of the cross. They will help us focus on Good Friday and what Jesus did for us today.

Station Thirteen: The Body of Jesus Taken from the Cross

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.  I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.

John 19:33-38

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.)  These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.”  And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”  After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus.  Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 

We watch in silence as Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and placed in his mother’s arms.  We allow ourselves to feel the depth of our loss.  We bow or kneel in response to this sacred moment.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Station Fourteen: Jesus Laid in Tomb

Matthew 27:59-60

So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.

We follow those who carry Jesus’ body to the tomb and wait in silence as jesus’ body is laid there and the tomb is sealed.  As we are ready, we leave in silence.

LET’S DON’T FORGET…. FRIDAY’S HERE, BUT SUNDAY’S COMING!

Stations of the Cross DAY 4- Devotional Thoughts for the Week Leading to Easter

Here are the next three stations of the cross. We’re getting closer to the day that we will celebrate our Risen Savior. HE IS RISEN!

Station Ten: Jesus Stripped of His Clothes

Matthew 27:34-5 

They offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots.

Job 5:17-18

How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.  For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, this station is hard for me.  Even now, I want to find some way to avert my eyes, pretend it didn’t really happen.  Convince myself that they did not strip you completely, that they left you with some shred of dignity.  But somehow, I don’t think they did.  This business of being stripped of one’s dignity is more than I can bear.  As we walk this path together, I become aware of how much I protect myself to maintain my own dignity.  I become aware of how I strip others of their dignity.  As we walk this path together, help me look at you and to see that even though they could strip you of you clothing, they could not strip you of your true identity.  Help me to root my identity more completely in you so I know that ultimately I have nothing to lose.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Station Eleven: Jesus Nailed to the Cross

John 19:18

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

Luke 23:33-34

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.   Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, the time has come.  The moment to which your whole life has been leading.  I look to you and see that you are not afraid.  You are resolute and committed and I am in awe of what I see.  Is there any word that could come from my mouth, any sentence that could capture what is happening now?  You die for me, you give your all for my sins, you become the Man of Sorrows so that I can have joy.  AS we walk this path together, I learn that sometimes there are no words... Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Station Twelve: Jesus Dies on the Cross

Luke 23:44-46

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the suns light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”  Having said this, he breathed his last.

John 19:30

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, how did you know when it was time to let go?  How did you know when you had suffered enough and could finally and completely commend your spirit into God’s hand?  I confess taht I don’t always know when to let go.  I cling and grasp for every last straw.  I do not lay my life down willingly and so it has to be wrenched from me and that always hurts more.  As we walk this path together, teach me how to let go when it is time.  Teach me to relinquish that very last breath of a thing that I think is mine to claim in this life so that I can live in total abandonment to you.  But even in this, help me not force what I cannot be or jump ahead of where I really am.  When it is time, show me how to do what I do not yet know how to do.  Silence.

The Lords Prayer

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Stations of the Cross DAY 3- Devotional Thoughts for the Week Leading to Easter

Here are the next three stations of the cross. I hope they are helping add more challenge and depth to your week leading up to Easter!

Station Seven: Jesus Falls Second Time

Isaiah 53:4-9

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By a perversion of justice he was taken away.  Who could have imagined his future?  For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.  They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, I hate these falling stations.  They embarrass me.  It is hard for me to admit when and where I have fallen.  I want so much to nuance it.  Make it look like something it is not.  Blame it on someone else.  But as I watch you fall, weakened from the beatings, the loss of blood, the loss of water, the loss of food, the betrayals of your friends, I see that there is something in you that is still strong: your commitment to God, your sense of yourself, your understanding of why you are here, your commitment to complete the journey that is yours to make.  In   you I see that there is no shame in falling because that is the way the learning comes.  In you I see that falling is not the same thing as being a failure.  As we walk this path together, teach me how to get up again with dignity and continue in your way.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Station Eight: Jesus Meets Women of Jerusalem

Lamentations 1: 12-16

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?  Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger. 

From on high he sent fire; it went deep into my bones; he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back; he has left me stunned, faint all day long.  My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they weigh on my neck, sapping my strength; the Lord handed me over to those whom I cannot withstand.  The Lord has rejected all my warriors in the midst of me; he proclaimed a time against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a wine press... the virgin daughter Judah.  For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed. 

Luke 23:27-28

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, teach us how to grieve.  We do not know how to grieve and what to grieve for.  Like the women of Jerusalem, our grieving is full of melodrama and it usually misses the point.  True grief, the kind that comes from seeing and grasping our true situation, is so deep it can hardly be spoken.  It can only be endured.  Lord Jesus Christ, our brother and our friend, our journey with you must be one of true sorrow and true conversion.  As we walk this path together, lead me beyond the melodrama of public weeping and wailing into that godly grief that keeps me in touch with my humanness and leads to true repentance.  Let me know the comfort promised to those who truly mourn.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Station Nine: Jesus Falls Third Time

Psalm 26:1-3

 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.  Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.  For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way.  I am frustrated with the falling.  I kept hoping that last time would be the last time but it is not.  I keep wishing that at some point on the journey I could be certain that we can transcend our own human frailty, never to fall again.  Perhaps I am finally getting it: falling and getting up again is and always will be a part of the journey until we are finally home.  Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for not giving in to despair when the road got so hard.  Thank you for getting up again each and every time you fell.  As we walk this path together, grant me the perseverance and the humility to continue falling and rising until I am safely home.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Stations of the Cross DAY 2- Devotional Thoughts for the Week Leading to Easter

Here are the next three scriptures and prayers for the next three stations of the cross. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions…

Fourth Station: Jesus meets His Afflicted Mother

Lamentations 2:13

What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem?  To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion?  For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can heal you?

John 19:25-27

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother=s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”  And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 

 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, your life on this earth was shaped by a mother who was utterly given over to the will of God in her life.  Her prayer, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” reverberates throughout history as a picture of what it means to be totally given over to the will of God.  I wonder what it was like to look into her eyes this day and see the pain that such willingness brought to her.  Who could have imagined that it would all end so horribly?  Was there any regret in her eyes?  Lord Jesus Christ, our brother and our friend, your mother’s life teaches us that sometimes we must let go of that which we have birthed.  We must allow it to be taken from us in order for it to be returned to us again.  Sometimes it seems like this is the deepest pain of all.  As we walk this way together, teach me how to bear this pain when it is time.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus Carry Cross

Psalm 141:2-52

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.  Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me.

Mark 15:20-22 

After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.  They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.  Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 

 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, sometimes we need help.  We need companions on the way to help us shoulder our burdens when they get too heavy.  And yet, we are embarrassed to ask for help or unable to receive it when it is given.  As we walk this path together, forgive me for my proud self-sufficiencies and for all the ways in which they wall me off from you and from others.  Save me from the exhaustion that sets in when I am unable to receive the help I need.  As we walk this way together, help me recognize the help that you send and to humbly receive it when it is given.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Sixth Station: Woman wipes face of Jesus

 Sirach 6:14-17 

Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth.  Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them.  Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so are their neighbors also.

Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?”  And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

 Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, it is one thing to receive help because someone is pressed into duty; it is quite another to experience compassion freely given.  I am taken with this woman whose compassion moved her to do the one small thing she could do for you.  She could not save you from what was before you, but she could be kind to you along the way.  She saw the blood and sweat pouring down your face and so she did something so simple.  So needed.  So true.  She wiped your face.  Would I have had the courage to step out of my safe place in the crowd and expose myself to danger in order to help a stranger?  Would I have been able to calm my beating heart and queasy stomach long enough to reach out or would I have been paralyzed by fear?  If I had been the one exhausted and bloodied on the road, would I have had the humility to receive the ministry of a stranger?  As we walk this path together, help me to see the one small thing I can do for you and help me to do it before the moment passes.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

***FYI, Sirach  and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 BCE, written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. While it’s not part of the actual canon we have as our Bible and is considered part of the Bible in the Catholic Church, it is still a great source of wisdom and encouragement.

Stations of the Cross DAY 1- Devotional Thoughts for the Week Leading to Easter

Since this is Passion Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday, I thought I would post some devotional thoughts to help direct your attention to what Jesus would do for us on Good Friday when He gave His life for us on the cross. My prayer is that they will help encourage, comfort, and challenge you as you are striving to follow Jesus, especially now in these crazy times.

Nine years ago, I went to Israel with some ministers and other church planters. A couple of days before we finished our two-week trip, we walked through the Stations of the Cross in Old Jerusalem. As we walked the Via Dolorosa, which is believed to be the actual path that Jesus walked on the way to Calvary, we stopped and read these and spent time in reflection and prayer. Each day this week, I’ll be posting three of the stations, except for Friday, which will have only two. Those two will be specific for Good Friday.

Take some time reading and praying through these short devotions and prayers. May they will help us focus on what we will celebrate this coming Sunday morning separately together.

IT’S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME DAY!

First Station: Jesus Condemned to Death

Psalm 2:2, 7-8

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

Mark 14:61-64

But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, we are all condemned to death.  Sometimes we bring death on ourselves; sometimes it is at the hands of others.  Always, death is an inevitability of the human situation.  Even though we try to avoid it, the Paschal rhythm of death, burial, and resurrection teaches us that the only path way to new life leads through the dark and narrow passageway of death.  Lord Jesus Christ, friend and brother, you faced your accusers with quiet dignity.  You walked into your death with honesty and grace.  Show me those places in my own life where I must die to self in order to be born to new life.  As we walk this way together, teach me how to meet my own deaths–large and small–with courage and grace.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross

Isaiah 53:1-3

Who has believed what we have heard?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 

 John 19:14-17

Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?”  The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called in Hebrew Golgotha.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, sometimes your call upon our life seems like more than we can bear.  We are tempted to shrink from the challenges and hardships of our path.  We wonder if we can make it all the way up the hill.  Lord Jesus Christ, you carried your own cross with strength and perseverance and were undeterred by those who demeaned you along the way.  As we walk this way together, show me what is my cross to carry, my burden to bear, and teach me how to shoulder it well.  Today is the day for me to learn more of what it means for me to take up my cross and follow you.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Third Station: Jesus Falls beneath Cross

Isaiah 63:2-5

Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?  I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes.  For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come.  I looked, but there was no helper;  I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me. 

John 15:18-20

If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world–therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, Servants are not greater than their master.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, we are afraid of falling. Afraid of failing.  Afraid of not being seen as strong and able to manage everything that has been given to us to do.  Somehow the expectations have gotten so high that there is no place for weakness, for vulnerability, for needing help.  We try to pretend that we can live far beyond human limitations and ruin ourselves in the process.  Lord Jesus Christ, our friend and brother, on the day that you accomplished God’s greatest purpose for your life, you fell.  You, the Creator of the Universe, the Word that spoke all things into being and holds them all together, stumbled under the weight of a man-made cross.  As we walk this way together, teach me how to let myself be human.  When I fall, help me not to be paralyzed with shame or waste energy with excuses; rather help me to get up and keep walking the path that is marked out for me.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

reGeneration Message Notes- March 29

Even though we’re not able to currently be physically together, we can be SEPARATELY together. We’re striving to do everything we can to help us continue to be the church while we’re apart. While we’re still having our Sunday Morning gathering, we want you to feel like you’re even more connected than usual. Click HERE for the notes and the scriptures for this morning’s message for you to use to follow along and for further study. Print or download and have them ready for deeper participation in our time together!

REALationships- Husbands- Additional Content

I was so encouraged by our gathering this past Sunday morning! We continued our series “REALationships” and we talked husbands. To see how many of our men stand up for prayer to ask God help us fulfill the scriptural role that Good intends for us was AWESOME! I really believe that when we men strive as Christ followers who happen to be single, husbands, or fathers, then we will begin to be prepared to or begin to truly live providing the appropriate spiritual leadership for the women around us to help them follow Jesus. God desires for us to follow Jesus in such a way that they will see how His Spirit is working in and through us and they will want to follow as well. To help encourage us, I want to share some additional content from my message from Sunday that we didn't have time to get to. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions you may have.

Men, we must love our wives and be faithful to them.

We’re not going to really be able to do it unless WE LOVE GOD FIRST.  When the prophet Samuel was sent by God to anoint David who was to be the next king of Israel after Saul, God told him that David was being chosen because he was a man after God’s own heart.  What does that mean?  It means you’re going to live your life putting God first.  It means we follow what Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

To be a man after God’s own heart we have to live our life saying what’s important to God is going to be important to us.  So how do we do that?  Well I want to talk through Colossians 3 and see how it can help us be men after God’s own heart.  Let’s start with verse 1,

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Paul begins the chapter reminding us what has happened to our lives because of Jesus.  After our baptism, through the Holy Spirit we are new people, the old sinful man is buried and gone.  I love verse 3.  It says our lives are hidden with Christ in God.  When we give our lives to Christ, God no longer sees who we used to be, He sees who we are in Christ.  Paul tells us that we need to focus our lives on Christ and the hope we have in Him which is- heaven.  Paul then explains what is supposed to continually take place once we enter this new life with Christ.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

We men never deal with those things do we?  Lust, anger, filthy language.  You notice he says “You used to walk in these ways…”  God expects us to constantly work to put to death whatever belongs to the earthly nature.  If you have to put something to death that implies that it must be alive.  What does that say about our earthly nature?  It is constantly trying to keep us from being who God desires us to be.  Paul then continues and tells us what God has done for us through Christ is for anyone,

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

 Then he explains how we should live our lives in Christ.

 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Men, think about what I just read.  How much do you think about doing some of these things? Being compassionate?  Kind?  Humble?  Gentle?  Patient?  How about forgiveness?  Bearing with each other in love?  Love?  These are things that are totally opposite of how the world will tell you a man should live.  We’re supposed to look out for number one, do whatever we can get ahead and take care of ourselves.  But it’s what God expects of us as men.  It’s these things that we should be setting the example in for our families.  Go on,

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As a husband are you living your life in the name of the Lord?  Are you doing everything you do in the name of Christ, always being thankful for what you have?  Christi Gibson, the wife of John Gibson, the pastor who committed suicide because of his name being on the Ashley Madison site said this concerning the suicide note he left,

 He talked about depression. He talked about having his name on there, and he said he was just very, very sorry," Christi said. "What we know about him is that he poured his life into other people, and he offered grace and mercy and forgiveness to everyone else, but somehow he couldn't extend that to himself.

Husbands, do you need to allow the grace and mercy and forgiveness of God to come into your lives?  I believe, men that it’s time we start setting the pace.  We need to commit to God that we are going to be men after God’s own heart.  What is going to have to happen in your life to begin to live that way?

A re:GENERATE Reminder

In his book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Thom Rainer says that as many as 100,000 churches in America are showing signs of decline towards death. He says,

Between 6,000 and 10,000 churches in the U.S. are dying each year. That means around 100-200 churches will close this week. The pace will accelerate unless our congregations make some dramatic changes.- Thom Rainer

I have always desired that reGeneration would be a church that would be filled with people who are authentically seeking after Jesus letting God continually fill them with Spirit, working in and through them to change them from the inside out to who He has always wanted them to be. This past Sunday we talked from Ezekiel 36 and looked at what it would be like for God to regenerate us. I wanted to give a reminder of what we talked about, so we could try to make this a mindset, our lifestyle both separately and together.

We need to understand that God loves us; REALLY, TRULY, DEEPLY, SACRIFICIALLY loves us. He wants us to be with Him so much that it makes Him jealous for our attention. We need to live with an awareness of this. I said Sunday,

“IN the Old Testament, the second part of the Bible, a couple of times in Exodus and once In Deuteronomy, it says God is a jealous God. This means He loves us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him.  He wants us all or nothing.  In James 4 it says,

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?- James 4:4-5 

He considers it like we are cheating on Him when we turn away and even slightly “flirt” with the world.  The Israleites had been doing more than “flirting.”  They had been cheating on Him.  So, because of their unfaithfulness, God allowed them to be taken out of the land of Israel and taken captive in other countries.  God wanted them to know that not only were their actions bad, but their actions made Him look bad.  Verse 20 of Ezekiel 36,

And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.'

I wonder, if we as Christ followers, completely understand what we do to the “reputation” of God when we say one thing but live something else.  When we don’t authentically and faithfully seek after Him, we actually blur the picture of Who God desires to be with people. They can’t truly see Him and what He’s done for them through Jesus.  The nations around the Israelites couldn’t see God as the One and True God because of this, and it concerned God.  Verse 21 of Ezekiel 36,

I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. 22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.

The way the Israelites were living was giving the impression that they didn’t believe in the God they said they followed and called Lord God.  This God, the Creator of all Things, the Faithful, Protector, Savior wasn’t reflected in their actions and lives.  Because they were scattered in other lands among other people, this God of theirs must not be able to protect to them.  If He couldn’t be relied on then why should these other nations trust in Him? I think the same can be said of us.  When the people around us can’t see Him at work in and through us; when they can’t see a difference in the way we live as we trust Him through both the highs and lows, then they won’t see a need for Him.  If we’re not living set apart, striving to be holy, relying on Jesus, we’re not really going to able to fulfill our mission.  We may convert people to the church, but not to Jesus. Because the Israelites were profaning His name, God couldn’t rely on them, so He decided to do something; and again He revealed Himself for Who He really is.  Verse 23 of Ezekiel 36,

I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD , declares the Sovereign LORD , when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

So, what does He do? God is faithful and just.He loved the Israelites so much, that He would bring them back to their land, and more importantly, back into relationship with Him again. Which is where He always wanted them, and us, to be.”

I pray that we will always strive to put Jesus first so we can experience His jealous love for us so we can in turn share it with those who need to be loved by Him.

Let’s pray for each other so we can stay faithful to our loving Father and grow to be who He has always desired for us to be…

Breathing In His Breath of Life

Man, I am so excited about our Night of Worship tonight. I love every opportunity we have to get our church family together to worship and experience God. I wanted to post an excerpt from this past Sunday’s message because it will dovetail with what our desire is for tonight. I truly believe that we’ll never, EVER, be able to do real ministry as a church without the presence of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. We talked Sunday from Ezekiel 37 in the Old Testament, specifically verses 1-14 (Go take a minute and read that… I’ll wait!). As I said Sunday morning,

“From this passage, I believe that we can see two qualities of a church that is alive. Now, understand that we are going to talk about the church in the context of it being a body.  In the New Testament, in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and specifically in Colossians 1, the church is referred to as a body, the Body of Christ. In verses 4-8, we see that Ezekiel has a vision where he sees a valley of dry bones begin to come together and form bodies that become a vast army.  If we, as the Body of Christ, are going to be alive and healthy, there first has to be physical activity. Just as these bones came together, and then muscles and tendons, and then skin formed on them to make them whole, we as the Body need to be healthy and together.  Two Hebrew words are important here.  In verse 6, when you see the words make and come, the word Alah is used, which means to grow, bring up, or lift up. In verse 7, when you see the phrase come together, the word Qarab is used, which means approach or draw near.  If we’re going to be a church that is alive, then we’re going to have to be united together and draw near to God so He can work in and through us to help us live and share the Gospel to the world around us.  In Ephesians 3, it says that God’s intent is that the church would work together to make Him and the Gospel known. But here’s what we have to remember. There can’t be any physical activity in and through the Body if there isn’t first, spiritual activity. The Body of Christ needs to be spiritually growing and becoming like Jesus. Here we see three different Hebrew words used. In verse 9, when we see the word breath, the Hebrew word ruah is used. It means spirit, the presence of God. When you see breathe in vs. 9, the word puah is used which means to kindle a fire. In verse 10, where we see the phrase came to life, the Hebrew word hayah is used which means to make alive, quicken, preserve, refresh, or rebuild. Here’s what we’ve got to remember for us to be a church that is alive… WE CAN’T BE THE CHURCH UNLESS WE”RE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Only then can we truly be a living church. Life comes from God. We see that all the way back in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. When God created Adam, the first man, it says He created Him from the dust of the earth and literally breathed His breath into him. God gave Him life. He gives us life. But, He also wants to give us NEW LIFE.”

God has tasked us with sharing this NEW LIFE with those who aren’t really living. I kind of see it as us inhaling the breath of God and it brings us life. Then we exhale it to those around us who can, hopefully and prayerfully, inhale it. That’s when God will raise them to NEW LIFE in Christ! But it begins with us, both separately and collectively as a church.

Tonight our night of worship will be an opportunity for us to inhale the breath of God as He breathes it into us. We’ll be providing an environment where we can have an experience to encounter Him, to breath in. It will give us the opportunity to be encouraged, comforted, and challenged to follow Jesus…. but, we’re gonna talk more about that tonight.

And hey, come a little closer…. In case you can’t make it in person tonight, we’re going to stream it on reGeneration’s Facebook page live at 7:00…. But, honestly, we’d love to give you a hug in person!

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

Snakes...

So, the evening of Memorial Day we had rain and some pretty decent wind in the Bottom (Frazier's Bottom, that is!).  I was upstairs in our house when I heard a pretty loud crack, like a tree falling.  Now, we have some pretty tall trees in our backyard so my first thought was that one of our trees had fallen.  I ran to the bathroom window in our bedroom and I saw that a tree had fallen in our next door neighbor's yard.  Honestly, my first thought was being thankful that it wasn't one of ours.  I know, that was selfish.  But, my second thought was I hope it didn't damage their deck, because that was where it had fallen.  Before I could get out there to see if they needed help, my neighbor had already started.  Our neighbor on the other side was out there helping with his chainsaw, so they were doing a good job of getting it cleaned up.  I went out to help put the branches and logs into a pile and saw that what had fallen was a huge, dead part of the tree that was actually help up with the main part of the tree with barbed wire.  It was a good sized piece and they were fortunate that it didn't damage anything.  Well, as the neighbor was cutting through a part of the tree, he suddenly stopped and had a weird look on his face.  He looked at me and said, "What the heck?"  There were three snakes that ended up being killed by his chainsaw as he was cutting that tree up, and it wasn't on purpose.  He didn't know they were in there.  One snake did get away and slithered up into the part of the tree that was left.  I'm sure it was thankful to get away with its life.

As we were piling the branches and logs up, I got to thinking about the spiritual aspect of what I saw in that dead tree and the snakes.  I seem to do that a lot, see the spiritual in things.  The first thought that came to mind is the fact that we have to strive to be constantly growing in our faith. That means we have to stay connected to Jesus.  He said in John 15,

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned".- John 15

If we don't stay connected to the Vine, we will wither away and become dead just like that tree.  When that happens, we run the risk of allowing satan to fill the void where the Holy Spirit should be in our lives.  It was pretty amazing that there was a hole, an empty space that ran the length of that dead tree, and that's where the snakes were.  If we're not letting the Holy Spirit continually fill our lives, something else will.  The enemy is just waiting for the opportunity to do it.  SIN WILL FIND A WAY INTO OUR LIVES.  Once we become Christ followers it doesn't mean that we are immune to temptation.  The devil is going to look for every crack or hole to fill.  Just as the snakes filled the hole in that dead tree, sin will look to fill us if we're not growing.  And then we'll find ourselves on the pile ready to be burned.

MAY WE ENCOURAGE, COMFORT, AND URGE EACH OTHER TO GROW IN THE LORD AND ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK IN AND THROUGH US SO THE devil WON'T HAVE A PLACE IN OUR LIVES SO WE CAN LIVE AND SHOW THE GOSPEL!

Love you guys...

Life @ reGeneration

Just a quick update and reminder about things that are coming up at reGeneration.  We're excited about things that are happening and we're gearing up for our "Summer of Love" this year.  It's gonna be pretty awesome to really get involved in the community doing some new stuff, while continuing the things we've been doing.  Be watching for the "Summer of Love" calendar.  It will be available next week.

Here's what's coming up in the next few weeks:

PRESTERA CENTER - Our next Prestera service will be June 3 at 7:00 at their Pinecrest facility on Rt. 60.

LIFE GROUPS - One of the things that we need as Christ followers is constant encouragement, comfort, and accountability (I Thessalonians 2:11-12).  One of the ways we're going to provide these is through life groups.  These groups will be a way for us to continue to live out our values together away from Sunday morning.

Steven Schumann is leading a College/Young Adult group.  Contact him at (316) 706-1510 if you would like to be a part of this awesome group!

Since we have people who come from the Teays Valley/St. Albans area, there will be a group for them that will have their first meeting on June 8.  There will be more info about this group this Sunday morning.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS FOR HOWELLS MILL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY - If you forgot to bring them this past Sunday you can still bring them this Sunday.

BASKET OF LOVE THIS SUNDAY! - Please bring baked goods for Bulldog Creative Services who helped design our church sign.

FOLLOWING JESUS CLASS - This class will start on June 19 and will meet at the church space at 6:30 pm.  We'll be covering some doctrinal essentials that are vital for us as Christ followers.  The cost of the book is $6.00.  You can check out the book HERE.  We'll be ordering books in a couple of weeks or you can order your own. The class will be eight weeks.

REFIT - Sunday, Monday & Wednesday 6:30 pm

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY - Tuesday 6:30 pm

DAILY PRAYER - Check out the website and social media to keep up with our 2:00 daily prayer.

If you have any questions, you can ask them here or send me an email, tracy@regenerationwv.com.

LET'S MAKE LIFE INTERESTING TOGETHER!

Tracy

Continuing Talk About the Bible (Literally!)

So, you're reading the beginning of another way for us to be connected at reGeneration.  From this point forward, at least once a week I'm going to be using this blog to share background info on the Sunday message, share my thoughts and insights on stuff that may be going on in the news, etc., or give more info about upcoming serving opportunities and events.  It's going to be another "touch" for us to BE the church and "make life interesting."

Yesterday I continued the series "Q & A" and talked about the Bible.  We looked at what it says about itself and answered the question of what translation should you use.  If you didn't get the chance to see the message, here's the video on Facebook.  I had mentioned in the message that I would post the info about the history of Bible translations that I found.  It is from the eBook How the Bible Came to Be, edited by J. Daniel Hays & J. Scott Duvall.  If you would like to get that eBook, it's pretty inexpensive at $1.99.  Here's the link on Amazon.

Here's the excerpt from the message,

"In the ebook, How the Bible Came to Be,I found a little history of the English translation of the Bible.  John Wycliffe produced the first complete translation of the Bible into English in the 1380s. He translated the New Testament from Latin into English and was persecuted for his willingness to put the Bible into the language of ordinary people. John Purvey produced a revision of the Wycliffe Bible (1388), and this translation dominated until the time of William Tyndale. With the invention of the printing press in the mid-1400s, English Bible translation rapidly moved forward. William Tyndale produced the first English New Testament (1526) based on the Greek text rather than the Latin. Tyndale was executed and his body burned in 1536 for his courageous commitment to Bible translation. In 1535, Miles Coverdale produced a translation of the entire Bible into English (Coverdale Bible). The Matthew Bible was completed two years later (1537) by John Rogers, an associate of Tyndale. Rogers also suffered martyrdom for his work as a translator. In 1539, Coverdale revised the Matthew Bible, a revision better known as the Great Bible because of its larger-than-normal pages. The Great Bible was very popular with the people and was the first English translation authorized to be read in the Church of England. From Geneva, Switzerland, Oxford scholar William Whittingham and others produced a revision known as the Geneva Bible (1560), which featured Calvinistic marginal notes. This Bible became extremely popular among groups such as the Puritans, but was not permitted to be read in English churches. The Bishops’ Bible, a revision of the Great Bible, was completed in 1568 for this purpose. The Roman Catholic Church also needed an English translation with marginal notes in support of its doctrine, and in 1593 it produced the Douai-Rheims Bible.  In 1604, King James I authorized a new translation of the whole Bible for use in the churches of England. The leading university scholars in England produced the Authorized Version of 1611, commonly known as the King James Version (KJV). The King James Version of 1611 also included the Apocrypha, a group of Jewish books recognized as canonical by Catholics but not by Protestants. The goal of the KJV translators was to produce an English translation from the original languages that ordinary people could understand and that would be worthy of public reading in the churches. In spite of early criticisms, the KJV became one of the most widely used English translations. The KJV has been revised numerous times since 1611. It’s a revision of the 1769 edition that is prominent today—an edition that differs significantly from the 1611 edition. For example, the original KJV contained the Old Testament Apocrypha, books traditionally accepted by Catholics and rejected by Protestants. In spite of the popularity of the KJV, translators have been motivated to continue producing new Bible translations for two reasons.  

First, the translators of the KJV used only about a half dozen, very late Greek manuscripts to translate the New Testament.  Since that time, many older manuscripts have been discovered and most scholars contend that these are more likely to reflect the original text. Today, New Testament scholars are able to translate from a Greek text that draws on almost six thousand Greek manuscripts, some dating back to the second century. Sometimes the differences between the KJV and contemporary translations are due to differences in the underlying Greek text.  

Second, the KJV’s use of archaic English words and phrases such as “aforetime,” “must needs,” “howbeit,” “holden,” “peradventure,” and “whereto” confuses contemporary readers.  The KJV was a good translation for its day, but has been eclipsed by numerous contemporary translations.  The English Revised Version (ERV; 1881–1885) was the first major revision of the KJV, and the first English translation to make use of the modern discipline of textual criticism.  American scholars produced their own revision of the ERV in 1901: the American Standard Version (ASV).  Toward the middle of the twentieth century (1946–1952), the Revised Standard Version (RSV) appeared, still based on the KJV but with the goal of representing the best scholarship in language designed for public and private worship.  The New American Standard Bible (1971) claimed to be a revision of the ASV, but should really be considered a new translation. The New King James Version (1979–1982) made an effort to update the language of the KJV while retaining the same underlying Greek text.  The New Revised Standard Version, a thorough revision of the RSV, was completed in 1989 with the goal of being as literal as possible but as free as necessary (in order to accurately communicate the meaning). There have been many other contemporary translations in recent years that are not tied to the KJV.  The New American Bible (1941–1970) and the Jerusalem Bible (1966) are major Catholic translations of the Scriptures.  The New Jerusalem Bible, a revision of the Jerusalem Bible, appeared in 1985.  Both the New English Bible (1961–1970) and its revision, the Revised English Bible (1989), are translations into contemporary British idiom.  The American Bible Society completed the Good News Bible in 1976 (also called Today’s English Version) with the goal of expressing the meaning of the original text in conversational English.  The New International Version (NIV; 1973–1978, 1984) sought to produce a translation in international English offering a middle ground between a word-for-word approach and a thought-for-thought approach.  Today’s New International Version (TNIV; 2001) is an attempt to revise the NIV using the best of contemporary biblical scholarship and changes in the English language, especially as it relates to the issue of gender and language.  The NIV was thoroughly revised in 2010.  As a result, the NIV (1984) and the TNIV will eventually be discontinued. The issue of gender-inclusive language was brought to the fore by the publication of the TNIV. Bible translators will continually be challenged as to how best to translate the meaning of the biblical text into contemporary English in light of language changes such as those in the area of gender. The New Century Version (1987) and the Contemporary English Version (1991–1995) are recent thought-for-thought translations.  The New Living Translation (1996) is a fresh, thought-for-thought translation based on the popular paraphrase, the Living Bible (1967–1971).  The New International Reader’s Version (1996) was created to enable early readers to understand God’s Word. Eugene Peterson’s The Message (1993–2002) is an attempt to render the message of the Bible in the language of today’s generation. The New English Translation, commonly referred to as the NET Bible (1998–2005), offers an electronic version of a modern translation for distribution over the Internet (complete with over sixty thousand explanatory notes by the translators). The English Standard Version (2001) is a word-for-word translation that uses the RSV as its starting point. The Holman Christian Standard Bible (1999–2004) also promotes a word-for-word approach unless clarity and readability demand a more idiomatic translation."

I know this is a lot of info, but hopefully, this helps provide some more insight as you continue to seek out God's Word and how to apply it.  Remember, we need to find a version that we can truly understand so we can best know how to follow Jesus.  Don't forget,

By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.            Psalm 119:105 (The Message)

If you have any questions, please let me know.  You can email me at tracy@regenerationwv.com.

Love you guys!

Tracy