More Than Bread

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Today's reading focuses a great deal on the missionary journeys and adventures of Paul. So we will pause for a few moments on some words in the midst of the reading that define Paul's passion. He wants his life to count. He wants to make a difference.  I believe that one of the most critical issues facing us today is that we don't really know what counts. We settle for a lesser purpose, and in the process, . we lose the wide-eyed wonder and awe of the radical Good News that we have as our Father God, an unstoppable force, a Dream-Releaser of "beyond imagination" power.  That we have in Jesus a, passionate Savior and Leader, who was willing to die to see God's story written in our lives. Let's not forget what counts. I want my life to count!

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The book of Acts is the unfolding story of the beginning of our movement, the beginning of the church. I know some, maybe even many believe that the best of the church is behind us, rather than yet to come.  But I believe Jesus calls us to live with a deep sense of expectancy; a hope that the best is yet to come. I believe Jesus is calling us to embrace the role of those who turn the world upside down.

Once upon a time, that's what we were called. In fact, in the reading for this episode, we will come across that description. It wasn’t necessarily a compliment. But it’s become part of my prayer for us, for the church in 2021 and beyond.  "Lord, would you do it again? Through your Spirit working within us, turn the world upside down again!" 

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Today we read Acts 7-11 and we will pause at the moment of Stephen's death. I have this vision in my mind of a horrific tragedy of the brutal death of one of the hero's of our faith, a leader of the early church. And yet it is also a heart-gripping moment of grace, a moment where Stephen leaned deep into the heart of Jesus.

This was a defining moment for the church.  Stephen's moment defined our movement as a movement of people who were full of faith and grace; people joyfully surrendered to Jesus, courageously generous, living life all-in with open hands and open hearts.  We need to listen in this moment and learn from it, but more than anything we need to lean into it.

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In this episode, we dive into the book of Acts. From the pouring of the Spirit of God in Acts 2 to the healing of a crippled man in Acts 3 to the sacrificial generosity of Acts 4 to the exploding numbers of people becoming apprentices of Jesus to the prayer meetings. Oh my goodness sometimes I think, if I could do anything, I would love to go back to one of those prayer meetings, they were devoted to prayer. Those were the days...and these still are those days!

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The gospel of John is so rich in material. The final seven chapters are some of the richest.  John 17 contain's Jesus' prayer for us that we would be one. That prayer more than most has shaped my life and ministry for two decades.  But in this episode, we will pause in the broader section know as "Jesus' Farewell Discourse." In other words, some consider this Jesus' last words. They come in John 14-17, and they are Jesus' last words before crucifixion and resurrection. But they are not last words, they are beginning works and they are so good!

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One of the most heart-gripping moments in the days before Jesus' death on the cross is when He takes on the role of a servant and washes His disciples' feet.  One translation describes that as the moment where Jesus showed them the "full extent of his love." Wow! This was a defining moment in Jesus' life and His example defines our lives as well!

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In this episode, we pause on one of Jesus' I-am statements.  "I am the bread of life." This podcast springs from the value that we put on the Word of God. We need more than bread for life. We need every Word that comes from the mouth of God. Now in John 6-9, we find that not only is Jesus the Word, but He is also the Bread of life that comes down from Heaven. Christ satisfies the deepest hunger of our heart! 

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In this episode, we begin the Gospel of John. John’s gospel stands alone. It's not like the other three! His gospel is more spiritual, more symbolic than the others. You might say that it is more theological. In fact, some of the richest theological conversations and teachings take place in John’s gospel. He focuses on a series of miracles or signs and a series of statements that Jesus made called, “The I-am statements.” The signs and statements point to Jesus divinity, mission and role in coming to earth as the Messiah.  Today we will pause on John's opening description that Jesus is the Word of God!

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So many amazing scriptures which could give us pause after today’s reading; but the one I personally needed was the story of hope in Luke 24. The story takes place after the resurrection, but before Jesus' friends truly believe in the resurrection. It's a moment when two men took a walk with Jesus on their way to the little community of Emmaus.  And it’s a deep story of hope, especially the hope we can find in scripture as we walk together.  Because we need hope right? We desperately need hope.

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While there are so many places we could touch down for a few moments in Luke 13-19, I want to pause today on a story that Jesus shared about prayer.  In Luke 18,  Jesus starts with the why of the story.  The why (the parable) of the story is so important that Jesus tells it upfront.  "Don't miss this," he is saying, "I'm going to tell you a story and I want the story to always remind you of the fact that we should always pray and never give up. Never forget this. Always pray. Never give up." In other words, don't lose heart. When the race seems long and the cheers seem faint, don't lose heart.