Raging Waters, Safe Harbors

Today we look at 2 Peter 1:3-12

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 

 The New International Version (2 Pe 1:3–15). (2011). Zondervan.

A few  disclaimers as we begin so that this does not devolve into a rant of a madmen, and instead some thoughts for you to consider and hopefully help you find some grounding and footing in a time that feels all but stable.

1.  I am neither red nor blue, Republican or Democrat.   And this loyalty to party is weird to me to be honest, especially for those that claim Jesus and the Kingdom of God.   Anyway, I vote, I participate in civil duties, but I do not have a team.
2. I do not know policy or how global economics or foreign affairs work - you do not need me to, there are so many folks that are experts at this - check your social media feed or your preferred pundits— I will say, there are things that make me feel very, very unnerved and disturbed.   But I am not here to talk about that…
3. I do not care what you did, but what you do.    Let me be super clear, I do not care who you voted for, or who you have supported.   My invitation is what will you do now.    

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

 The New International Version (Eph 4:26–27). (2011). Zondervan.

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

 The New International Version (Jas 1:19–20). (2011). Zondervan.

Quick to listen

Slow to speak

Slow to become angry

Human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; 

do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

 The New International Version (Ps 37:8). (2011). Zondervan.

Look within.   Ask what is next.  What can you do and should you do?

And remember:  Not all those that wander are lost.

In context, hear the full quote:

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Peace, my friends. And blessings to you as you seek first the Kingdom of God and not the small kingdoms of this world.

Here are references used in today's podcast:

The phrase "He who has ears, let him hear" (or similar variations) appears multiple times in the Bible, primarily spoken by Jesus in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation. Here is a full list of occurrences:

In the Gospels:

1. Matthew 11:15 – "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Regarding John the Baptist)
2. Matthew 13:9 – "He who has ears, let him hear!" (After the Parable of the Sower)
3. Matthew 13:43 – "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!"
4. Mark 4:9 – "And He said to them, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'" (Parable of the Sower)
5. Mark 4:23 – "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
6. Mark 7:16 – [Some manuscripts include this verse: "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"]
7. Luke 8:8 – "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Parable of the Sower)
8. Luke 14:35 – "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Regarding salt losing its flavor)

(Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9)

Book that I mentioned:

Richard Rohr, Falling Upward

This week we pick up where we left off last week, with 1 John 4.   Thanks for listening along.    I appreciate you all.

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

19 We love because he first loved us. 

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 

 The New International Version (1 Jn 4:16–21). (2011). Zondervan.

This week we will dive into what is happening in this world and how it impacts you.    We have agency my friends and we have the ability to be people of peace, love, and living with non-troubled hearts in this world.    Listen to it and keep forging forward my friends...

Here are the texts from this week's episode:

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 

28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. 

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 

29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

 The New International Version (Mt 13:24–30). (2011). Zondervan.

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. 

 The New International Version (Mt 13:36–43). (2011). Zondervan.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

 The New International Version (1 Jn 4:16–18). (2011). Zondervan.

In this week's episode we dive into the cry of David in Psalm 25  to God, "Can you help me?"   He prays:

Show me your ways

Teach me your paths

Guide me your truth

Here are notes from the episode:

Psalm 25 

Of David. 

1 In you, Lord my God, 

I put my trust. 

2 I trust in you; 

do not let me be put to shame, 

nor let my enemies triumph over me. 

3 No one who hopes in you 

will ever be put to shame, 

but shame will come on those 

who are treacherous without cause. 

4 Show me your ways, Lord, 

teach me your paths. 

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are God my Savior, 

and my hope is in you all day long. 

6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, 

for they are from of old. 

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth 

and my rebellious ways; 

according to your love remember me, 

for you, Lord, are good. 

 The New International Version (Ps 25). (2011). Zondervan.

From Shawshank Redemption:

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.

_________

Have a great week friends.

Kevin

In this episode we explore the reality of the choices we have each day (the IFs) and all of this in context of the raging waters of the world (in spite of).   The passage we look at today is Psalm 37:1-9 - here it is:

1Do not fret because of evildoers, 

Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 

2For they will wither quickly like the grass 

And fade like the green herb. 

3Trust in the Lord and do good; 

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 

4Delight yourself in the Lord; 

And He will give you the desires of your heart. 

5Commit your way to the Lord, 

Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light 

And your judgment as the noonday. 

7Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; 

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, 

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 

8Cease from anger and forsake wrath; 

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 

9For evildoers will be cut off, 

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. 

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ps 37:1–9). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

“Everyone believes the world's greatest lie..." says the mysterious old man.
 "What is the world's greatest lie?" the little boy asks.
 The old man replies, "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.” 

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The verbs of Psalm 37

Do not fret

Do not be envious 

Trust the Lord

Do good

Dwell in the Land

Cultivate faithfulness

Commit your way to the Lord

Trust in Him

Rest in the Lord

Wait Patiently

Do not fret

Cease from anger

Forsake wrath

Do not fret - it only leads to evildoing 

Wait for the Lord

Quote at the end:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thanks for listening and reading along.

-KP

Hello friends, this is episode 2, but it is still the pilot.   Lots of passion for helping people that believe know how to believe and act and do in times of raging waters, therefore it has taken 2 take to get it closer to right.     I will be dropping these episodes every Sunday.   

In today's podcast, we will introduce the purpose of podcast and why I care so deeply.   And we will look briefly at Mark 9:20-24.  Here it is:

They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 

21And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 

22“It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 

23And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 

24Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Mk 9:20–24). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

and I share this quote to close the podcast:

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initative or creation, there is one elementary truth...that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves. too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in ones's favor all manner of incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have believed would have come his way. 

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.

W.H. Murray The Scottish Himalayan Expedition