The Seven Streams Method

Exodus 8-11 We are in The World Stream reading through the plagues on Egypt. We are reading from the Good News Translation this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7Streams Method | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis "Lord God, we want to be on your side. It is clear that there are those who are for you and those who are against you.  The resolve is contrasting and stark. The results of obeying you v.s. fighting you are again, contrasting and stark. It reminds of the lyric of the old hymn, "Savior, we are thine."   May it be so.   Amen"

The Reading today covers plagues 2-9. We saw the Nile turning to blood and will read of the death of all the firstborn next week (1 and 10).  It is the bulk of the showdown with the Pharaoh today. The plagues we read about today are frogs, gnats, flies, plague on cattle, boils, hail, locusts, darkness. God used so many plagues and persisted through all ten of them for He wanted to fully prove the haplessness of the gods of Egypt.  In last week's reading, the Nile turning to blood, this was God showing supremacy over the Egyptian gods; Khnum- guardian of the Nile, Hopi- spirit of the Nile, and Osiris- the giver of life, whose bloodstream was the Nile. The Egyptians even today confess that the Nile is their life. No Nile => no Egypt.

ch. 8 - Today the Frogs plague was a direct insult to the god Heqt ["h-e-q-t"]. Frogs come up out of the Nile for the next seven-day long plague. Egyptians worshiped frogs. Their croaking each spring as the Nile began to recede signified it was time to plant crops. Since the events each year were coincidental, this led to frogs being worshiped. It was springtime and just as rabbits in spring were revered in Rome (thus the persistence of the "Easter bunny"  with seculars hoping it overshadows the import of the Easter Holiday itself), so too frogs were worshiped and even associated with fertility.   So God had frogs even cover their beds. "So you still want to worship frogs, eh?" God seems to be asking this of the Egyptians.  The magicians were able to bring up some frogs. Was that supposed to impress someone?  You can make the plague worse, ok, but can you make it better?  Note that Pharaoh asked Moses to pray to God to remove the frogs ... tomorrow.  Maybe if he had another day, he could solve the problem via his magicians. ? The gnats (mosquitos?) plague is not a direct insult of a god for none were associated with gnats, but it is the first plague that comes without a warning preceding it where Moses and Pharaoh talk first. Did Pharaoh deserve a warning? He had just lied to God/Moses/Aaron... Notice that God had told both Abraham and Jacob that their offspring would be innumerable; like the sand. Well the gnats here are going to be that thick, that innumberable, and plague starts when Moses strikes the ground.  Think of trying to get a night's sleep, especially when camping, and there is even one gnat buzzing around your ears. Alone it will keep you awake. Well the Egyptians were immersed in trillions of them.  And the magicians confess that it's God's doing. The flies strike next. It is going to be so bad that Moses goes to warn Pharaoh this time. We read "flies" but these are not what we think. We envision 'house-flies'. These are/were what are referred to as 'dog-flies'. Many have heard of 'horse-flies'. Those things bite and leave a mark!  The kind they had in Egypt were as angry as hornets. They dive and bite/sting. That is why the Israelites in Goshen are protected. The plague soon brings Egypt to ruin and it's understandable. Biologically, the Frogs, gnats, and flies happening in succession are linked matters but that can be discussed elsewhere. 9 - The plague on the cattle is a direct assault on Egypt's well being and economy and religion. They loved cows. It was entrenched in their minds. (Even Israelites falter in this come Exodus 32 when they make golden calves as idols). hundreds of millions in India worship cows to this day. "Hathor" was the Egyptian mother goddess in shape of a cow, and Apis (ah-PEACE) was the bull-god. He personified "Ptah" ; a creator-god who gave fertility.  The Egyptians worshiped cattle --> and God struck the cattle. Don't anyone get mad at God, it was Pharaoh who wouldn't bend here. All the animals in Egypt that belonged to the Egyptians died. The Israelites suffered no loss here. -Soon the boils come on the bodies of the Egyptian people and the animals. They had to have acquired more from neighboring countries and from Israelites since their's had all just died. So they have new cattle, they've just recovered from the biting flies and now ALL cows and people get boils.  Perhaps the fly bites are medically linked to getting the boils but it is bad and painful and the magicians would have conjured something except that they are covered with boils too. It is a national mess that is disgusting and beyond. "Imhotep" their impotent god of medicine was proving to be of no use and no contest against the God whom Moses served. -there is no recovery spoken of from the boils and soon the warning of hail coming is delivered to Pharaoh. Egypt had the sky goddess; Nut {"newt"}, Isis; the goddess of life, and Seth; the protector of crops.  These gods would prove useless like the others.  The warning is given because anything that is left out; slave or animal is going to get pelted to death. Some listen, some don't. The horror of the magnitude of the hail storm drives Pharaoh to a confession to Moses but there is not repentance. 10 - The Locust plague is again a clear statement against the gods Isis and Seth. This time God was determined to finish the contest with all the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh was beyond repenting. God would see to it that the oppressors of Israel were devastated.  Pharaoh tries some half measures to negotiate but is stubborn to the bone in the end, again. But it's God's doing and the locusts come and devour everything green that was left in the land from the hail storm. A vast cloud of them swarmed in. Some historians and entymologists (buggie-dudes) said that at night the locusts would rest on the ground in the dark and be 4-5" inches deep squishing under feet.  Pharaoh is crushed and comes to ask for prayer but he won't let the Israelites depart.  The loss of labor of millions would be even worse to him. The darkness, plague 9, came without warning as did the plagues of boils and gnats. The Egyptian sun gods, Re, Aten, Atum, and Horus were all shown as empty idols. The god Horus is still used as the logo on EgyptAir lines today. He is the falcon head.  Well darkness descended and it is a spooky darkness. It's a different type of horror than what the others had brought on. There was no darkness over the Israelites. They had asked to go worship for three days. Pharaoh had said "no" too many times before, so they got darkness for three days.  Pharaoh is unbending. 11 - Moses, under God's instruction, goes to Pharaoh and spells out in detail the 10th plague. It will be horrifying and be the greatest blow ever dealt to Egypt in its history. It will affect Pharaoh; the personified god of Egypt. This one will also strike the palace and will leave every home in the country with a lifeless hole in their soul. Pharaoh has been warned thoroughly, and as God has it, Pharaoh will not let the Israelites go.  They better brace themselves.

Romans 3:22-6:23 We are in the Church Stream today as we continue reading from the Lexham English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis 3 - this is the finale~ of this chapter. Romans 3 is not just the heart of the power of the gospel chapter.  Chapter 3 of Romans is the main heart valve of the gospel. Bible smuggling was mentioned last week regarding Romans. I'll conclude that comment this week by saying that when only a small piece of paper could be smuggled in; something the size of a 3X5 card, then the core of it all needed to be included, the content was Romans 3! It is a marvel what hinges on this chapter.  Christ expels our sin and appeases its effect upon our soul and destiny. The new bridge to the "Amazing Grace" song bursts upon the mind; "my chains are gone, I've been set free."  Romans 3 is good news that makes sense to us. Paul makes the crucifixion make sense. It is intriguing that the disciples (and everyone else) didn't understand what was happening as Jesus was dying. We do however thanks to Paul's writing to us. 4 - Abraham is the illustration employed here. All to whom Paul is addressing here have top regard for Abraham. The old school Jewish crew that Paul is addressing specifically need to understand God's role in salvation by remembering that Abraham was justified by faith and completely so.  He believed and was justified. Done. Circumcision was a ritual done later by Abraham and his son Isaac. Yes, it was the first next thing Abraham was required to do, but it was done after Abraham was justified. To become "children of Abraham", if that is how they were to perceive it, then one needed to simply believe God - like Abraham did. And believing God (like Abraham did) was to now follow Jesus v.s. follow Abraham in circumcision. Abraham's faith in God is what guided him, not his circumcision - that was only incidental.  This is vital to put it lightly. New Believers needed to be welcomed by the older believers and welcomed in faith like Abraham was. The issue is not that God made the Jews and the Devil made the Gentiles. This two-leveled stigmatism could become so severe that it would morph into a mental template of Jews circumcised and Gentiles uncircumcised (thus the Gentiles don't really even deserve to be here) that it would become a problem that would hobble the church forever.  Paul needed to explain what we find in ch. 4. 5 - is a "wow" chapter.  It is loaded with the verses we memorized in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. It's one of those 'gold mine' chapters with no many good finds and discoveries that it needs to be gone over slowly and repeatedly. The theological backdrop is that we find ourselves enswirled in a world of sin living a life of sin. We didn't ask to be born. We simply realize that we are here and it was not our choice. Invariably we opt to sin somewhere along the way and then cannot undo what we have chosen. Adam, much the same way, had to have a horribly sobering moments (perhaps many) during his centuries of life when he slumped onto a rock or chair and groaned, "I just ate a piece of fruit ... I didn't know it would lead to all this mess. I didn't know it would ruin everything for everyone. Is there no remedy? Will it be this way forever?!"  Adam's choice cements our choice to disobey.  Now, since Christ's righteousness is offered on behalf of all, choosing Him remedies the fact that Adam's choice brought death. Adam chose death and it extends to us. We can choose Christ for His righteousness also extends to us to cancel death. 6 - Life and grace and gratitude and Christ's covering for us are to be our motives in living. To think, "hey, I'm eternally forgiven, no matter what. I'm free, therefore, to keep living in sin for God will redeem me" is wrong thinking. It is desperately immature and a smack in the face who gave His Son for us at a costly price.  Someone who is thinking this way, [and there have been many] is oriented completely wrong.  It's s reckless to think this way. It's as wrong headed as a rich brat continuing to meddle in crime and saying, "it's fine, my old man will keep paying bail and the attorney fees. I can get out of any mess. No need for me to reform my ways." ... really?  A net under a high elevation work site is there in case we fall. It's not installed to be moronically played on all day like a trampoline.  Sin has wages that must be paid. Yet greater than death is God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, and He must be received by us.  We didn't choose to be born. We didn't realize that our sin would lead to such a death. But it's all true and it engulfs us. We do have the ability to choose Christ, and we must do so to cancel our eternal death. The Thread through the Streams for this week - "Take it to God" - Moses is thrust into a terrible face-off with the world's most powerful man at the time.  Moses has some serious questions and he takes it to God.  We see a Moses who is coming to God and coming against a Pharaoh who is fighting against the God who is about to make a move. -David (in I Sam.) is running for his life and takes each day and each event and each step in his heart to God.  This scenario v.s. a Saul who doesn't come to God for anything. -The Psalms this week are such a celebration as David is rejoicing in His Lord. He takes his joy to God who gives him joy. And when feeling forsaken, David goes straight to God with it. -Isaiah tells all who are thirsty, hungry, broken, unsatisfied, seeking righteousness to do what? ... to come to God. For His salvation is near. The wicked also are called out for their wickedness. -Hosea is calling for his wife to come back to him just as Israel is called to come back to the LORD: "afterward the children of Israel will return and seek Yahweh their God and David their King." Mark - tells of disciples who are called to Jesus, others are coming to Jesus, craving to get to Jesus, longing to be touched and healed and saved by Jesus. It's beautiful pictures; one after another. Paul's letter to Romans explains the thinking of God and the intricacies involved, the theory of what it is and what allows for us to be able to get to God.  It's mind bending and inspiring. Very motivating writing that the world must know

Mark 1:1-2:22 We are in the Christ Stream as we start the book of Mark - the expedient gospel. We are reading from the Lexham English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Mark is the expedient gospel. One person compared it to an old detective show where the inquisitor would cut off a testimony that was getting too mired in detail to interject, "just the facts, please ..."  Mark jumps straight to the baptism of Jesus to begin his gospel. Jesus is 30 years old.  He wants to make sure that the proof of his wonders gets known to the world.  His is the shortened, most concise gospel. The childhood of Jesus is not in Mark. There are no angel announcements, genealogies, John/Baptist buildup, childhood stories to include Joseph, wisemen nor shepherd visits, Jesus as a baby or as a 12-year-old in the Temple.  We see the word "immediately" in Mark dozens of times, markedly more than in the other gospels. Mark wants us to know the wonders of Jesus and then the next wonder, and the next and next. Mark does make a point that all kinds of people were coming from all over to be baptized by John in the Jordan. The managers of all the synagogues had to wonder "where is everybody?" Matthew notes this detail too as he also was writing to Jews mainly. Wait until Jesus comes along and the crowds looking to encounter him grow exponentially! Then there's really going to be sparse crowds left behind for the priests to speak to. Only Mark mentions John/Baptist's 'impressive' outfit and diet.  At any rate, Jesus is baptized and all four gospels include that the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus at that time. Mark's piece on Jesus' temptation is very brief whereas Matthew and Luke are quite descriptive.  There is a year of time or thereabouts that passes between Jesus' temptation and the Galilee ministry; [btwn Mark 1:13and  v.14.]   Biblical scholar Robert Stein refers to this as Jesus' 'year of obscurity'.  John tells of Jesus doing about eight notable things during this timespan. The pressure from the Pharisees must have been growing worse, so Jesus retreats to the north to do his earth-changing ministry around Galilee.  This Galilee portion of ministry that begins Mk. 1:14 goes through Mk. 10:1 when Jesus left for east of the Jordan and Judea to the south. He then calls four of the disciples (two sets of brothers) Simon and Andrew, then James and John. Remember, "Simon" is the prominent disciple; Peter. They all follow Jesus immediately. James and John were Jesus' cousins.  Their mother Salome was Mary's sister; Mary as in Mary and Joseph- yes, that Mary. So their mothers being sisters makes them 'first cousins'. [ Following Jesus was a family matter.]  Mark sets out then to assert Jesus' ability astonish people. He teaches ... and people are in awe. He drives out a demon and the reaction is the same. Then more people came at dusk. They came in large numbers. This is the time that people wrap things up and go home for the night. But this is different. This visitor is different.  His results are different. The entire city comes to Jesus and more. And He demonstrates inexhaustible ability to heal and cleanse. Jesus thereafter travels all over Galilee. He does a salient deed in healing a leper with a skin problem. By now, all Galilee and Judea and leaders from Jerusalem were present to witness Jesus at work.  The stage is set for a very prominent story: ... Mark 2 - The paralytic let down through the roof is a miracle that becomes a great hinge in Jesus' ministry. He gives the initial assertion by declaring the paralyzed man forgiven. He then proves that it is not empty talk when he heals him. This verifies Jesus ability to heal and save and that the link between the two is secured --> and that the source of those two gifts is Jesus.  The resentful scribes and Pharisees think it's their secret right to question Jesus who then announces his reply to a question that was not openly asked. Surprise! Jesus sees through everything and executes a move that echoes through ministries for all time. The rest of his ministry results and can be perceived in light of this miracle and the statement tagged with it. Jesus HEALS AND SAVES. Again, all are in awe - all except the leaders who sense their grip on the people slipping away. Jesus then calls Levi; Matthew (a sinful tax collector for Rome!) to be his disciple. Interesting that the phrase, a tax has been 'levied' still applies today and it comes from biblical literature.     The reading today ends with a question about fasting.  It comes from John's disciples. John has been imprisoned and so the focus is completely past him and moved to Jesus and Jesus' followers are acting rather differently than John's. Jesus responds with three illustrations: the bridegroom, patching a garment, and wineskins. Jesus is the bridegroom. As for patching? Quit trying to patch the old with old ideas. It's time for the new. The wineskins - same lesson proved a different way.  Jesus has so much to teach them.  And Jesus is not discarding the old Law of Moses.  He just told the leper in the prior story to go show the priest like Moses commanded. Jesus reveres Moses too. Lord, you are talking to us when Jesus is talking to us.  The people saw it and came running to you.  The leaders saw Jesus and resented Him. We want to pay attention to all that you have to show us.  Thank you for coming to us.  Amen.

Hosea 3-4 We are reading from the Exile Stream today while using the Lexham English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God wants to love His people and to bring them back.  He asserted that come chapter two of Hosea. But all they seem to want to do is run in another direction. Someone called Hosea's writing the throbbing of a broken heart.  It certainly is.  The passage today is filled with the words that clearly indicate that the horrible behavior of the people that once inhabited Canaan is reigning again. They ARE now fully behaving like the people they were to drive out.  What is God supposed to do for, pity sake? This symbolic marriage that Hosea is ordered to walk through is making God's pain [that we are inflicting on Him] all too personal to us.  If God could have gotten to Israel another way perhaps He would have.  But what works anymore with these "moral hyenas" ? 3 - Israel is completely behaving like pagans and Judah is too to a point. So God is buying them back and He will chasten and discipline them. After this they will fear and follow God ... yes? maybe? soon? ever? when? 4 - reads like a guilty verdict - because it is. Israel is so bad in its sinning that the land itself is suffering, and so are the animals.  This is a subtle theme that is still seen today. We've seen a land that is blessed turn thorny and repugnant, Gen. 3. Then Gen. 6 brings on a cleansing flood because of sin; nothing else brought on such weather.  There are vast deserts in the world today that were productive and fruitful farms back when they were a Christian majority. But violence and paganism and false religion came in and since Living Water (Jesus) was expelled, H2O / water left too.   Don't get mad at God for this!.  No mystery here! It's obvious. Read v. 3 again and there's the testimony. Sin left undealt with ends up punishing the whole place. From top to bottom, Israel has gone amok. They act like they don't know God; ----> and it's NOT God's fault!  They told Him to "get out!" v. 8 says "they feed on the sin of my people..." This may sound puzzling, but it's a billboard in all of our faces that there's a terrible amount of money made off of wrong doing. It's been going on so long in so many realms that the people can't see it any other way.  Think of all the occupations that would be out of business today if all sin would stop.  Plenty of leaders and politicians worldwide perceive sin as something that must be massaged to keep employment numbers up.  A sinless world is very frightening to the analytical type and especially to the political type. I'll leave this alone. The list is bad in ch. 4: the whoring, prostitution, drunkeness and contests that exist to keep the people this way are astonishing in their lewdness. (God's love on the other end of the scale is equally astonishing, btw) .  Symbolically the land is going to spit these people out at the rate they are going.  God's main contention is with the Priests who are steering this nation into darkness and doing so aggressively.  The Priests are making sure of this. v. 14 may seem strange, "I will not punish..." Sometimes a rascal of a kid in a classroom is so unteachable, that it becomes a waste of time and energy to even try anymore. So they are dismissed and the teacher needs to stop even caring where the kid ends up just to save sanity.  That's the case here in Israel.  Disaster is on the whore-izon God, keep us in your Word, for what we have read today is the "Way of all Flesh". The song says that we are prone to wander (Lord, I feel it).  Thank you God for hanging on to us even when we haven't the strength to hang on at all. More than being astonished by the sin, may we be amazed by Your Grace; Your Amazing Grace.  Amen.

Isaiah 55-59 We are in the Prophetic Stream as we read from the Lexham English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis 55-56  God is talking and it is soothing for this first 21 verses.  All of 55 and the first eight verses of ch. 56 is about the work of God expanding and blessing and feeding and watering and including and welcoming more to himself. People are so satisfied and God is shepherding and elevating and assuring. The whole world is invited to come; to come be cared for and ministered to the way God has been reaching out to the Hebrews since Abraham's day. 56:9 ff - from here to the end of today's reading, the boom gets lowered and God is giving some of His final warnings.  It isn't pretty stuff, and God will avenge upon those who are playing the Joker in God's face. Have you ever seen a kid, a teenager per se~ who was raised in a well-to-do family.  As has been said about what can happen to these types (especially the unmentored), they were born in the palace, so they think they own the place though they've done nothing constructive from their beginning.  Well the leadership in Jerusalem is thinking they are blessed regardless and since they have the "inside track" to God, they can bend His rules as they please and God is just going to let this arrogance slide forever.  Well He isn't.  God is going to cut loose on these men soon. They are blind, ignorant, selfish, stupid, gluttonous, and partying like plastered college sophomores and could not care less about anything; oblivious as well as careless. 57 - By this time Isaiah is calling everything what it is and Israel is acting no different than the pagans, heathens, the godless and satanic people all around them.  Even child sacrifice is going on! for shame!  Their behavior is approaching the bottom if not there already and it's been there awhile.  It's nauseating to even mention what is going on. The sin is generational by now and many don't remember anything different, they don't know anything is wrong.  Trying to point things out to these people is like lecturing skunks about bad odors. Prostitution is rampant and soon there will be nothing left before long.        Even with all this, God will receive back those who will repent . . . When will He have had enough and just smash the place ?  wow. 58 - What's going on is corrupted justice, manipulation of the people, "cherry-picking" through the Law and obeying what makes them merely feel holy and having no actual concern for holiness.  God is pointing out their injustice, the brutalizing of each other, the judgmentalism.  God is ordering them to stop this. He wants them to come back to Him. He wants to bless them.  They still aren't letting God love them however.  They seem to prefer to love themselves [as if they even knew how to!]. They're singing "i'll do it my way" 59 - This is the final chapter of this run; this litany of horrid problems with God's people. Again God is well into a monologue of accusation: There's blood on their hands, their feet chase evil, their thoughts are all wrong, there's no justice, and the sinning is endless.  God still has a plan for His nation and it is a good one.  He is going to send a Redeemer to those who will come to Him and turn from sin. God we can ask, "how can you keep loving these people?" And yet you do.  How can you and why do you keep reaching out to us? It's better that we just say thank you and not question you. And so we thank you for loving us as we are and yet loving us too much to not Redeem us to better living and better service to you.  Thank you Lord.  Amen.

Psalm 22-27 We are in the Wisdom Stream today as we read from the Lexham English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis.com Melissa Disney's CDs - Sweet Faith & Love Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Today is some of, if not, the most famous literature and prayers EVER written.  Be blessed and keep reading these all your lives. My husband and I read this again and again.  And we are glad to read it with you today. Ps 22 -   You heard Jesus quote this on the Cross.  God had not forsaken the Son. But to hang on a Cross is to feel forsaken, no matter what the Truth is.  Here is a Psalm that can only be attributed to the Crucifixion of our Lord.  And Jesus; The Truth, is on the Cross feeling forsaken, sneered at, pierced (bit by lions accd'g to this translation), his clothing getting illustratively "auctioned off".  He's in a bad way and calling out on God His Father.  That means that when we are in the worst of duress, we are to do that same - for God is listening.  Also it asserts that Jesus understands our plight, regardless.  That means we are never alone. 23 - When the Lord is your Shepherd, you have what you need; there is rest and peace and beauty, restoration, peace in all settings, comfort (strengthening), we are fed regardless of the surroundings.  We have anointing, plenty, goodness, love and mercy along with eternal security.  That should answer all our questions, oy mate? In all seriousness, David likely wrote this when he was a boy in Bethlehem, tending sheep. Just over 1000 years later, angels announce to shepherds that the Good Shepherd has arrived. It wouldn't surprise me if it all happened in the same field. Ponder that amazement. 24 -  A series of writers and biblical commentators muse that Ps.24 was what David wrote when the ark was brought back into Jerusalem as told in II Sam. 6:12-15.  The sentiment of the Psalm certainly matches the festivity of the occasion. God IS a celebration of love and remember that our entry and the beginning of heaven for us starts with worship and celebration. 25 - David is looking for rescue, guidance, mercy, a right-standing in God's Presence,  protection, and redemption.  It's a Psalm written and recited by a man in anguish who knows where to turn when life has taken a turn such as this.  It's the same David of whom we see cheering and praising in other places. This is what made David a man after God's own heart. He wanted to know and have the heart of God - so he did. Such a wonderful model David is for us. 26 - whereas 25 if 'David lamenting, "God, I've messed it up here. Help me", 26 is David nearly protesting, "God, I've been good about it all, don't "diss' me out now.  You said you were good ... "    It's similar to us if we prayed, "uh, God, you told me to call on you and that you would answer me.  I'm calling on you now, and I need you to answer me.  I don't want to listen to a recording, I want you to 'pick up'."   'Ever feel this way?  So did David - and it kept him in prayer. 27 - We all know what it's like to arrive at a favorite place, be it a meadow, or a vista on the trail, or a beach, or a relatives' house.  We pause and sigh, "wow, I love it here!!"  David says that when he sits with God.  He loves to sit with God and sing and listen and bask and rest.  Let's let this urge us accordingly.  Don't drift when we pray. Don't check your watch during a sermon. Turn off your phone when in a worship service. Pull away from the screen when family is telling you something vital and impassioned. Don't read the news or popups when your spouse is dining with you.  Come on, now.  God calls us into his courtyard.  Get there.  Psalm 27 helps us all get there. God thank you.  Thank you and thank you again.  You ARE everything we need.  Fill us with gratitude and may it spill over back into your house as we worship with you.  Amen.

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I Samuel 21-25 We are in the Nation Stream and David is on the run from King Saul. We are reading from the Lexham English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis The jealous venom Saul had for David that began after Goliath was killed has reached full strength.  Saul hates him so furious that the hatred is driving Saul into madness.  Control freaks often end up going mad over time unless they can turn it over to God.  But Saul is turning out to be unable [actually refusing] to turn anything over to God.

David is well into his seven years of being a fugitive on the run.  He lived like a scrapper, did some real quick "thinking on his feet", remained in pray, ultimately he kept his heart and head in tact (creatively so at times!).  It is interesting to talk to some old soldiers and have them gaze away, admit they were scared and then confess with a sigh, "those were the best months and years ever..."  Things were very exciting for David. Perhaps too exciting at times. But David made the best of it.  Through his "fear of God" [his reverence] David triumphed here too. The compensating begins immediately when he is fed the holy bread. This isn't to happen but he is hungry and on the run.  Then he is in hostile territory and exposed.  His feigning insanity erases the appearance of him being threatening and he survives. 22 - This entire chapter proves one thing: Saul has gone utterly manic and crazy.  The battle lines have been drawn and there is no reversing them. The soul of every man in the country had to decide from there on whether they were with Saul or with David.  It was a fatal mistake to choose unwisely. Imagine the devilish soul of Saul to kill 85 Hebrew priests and families and animals. David in his conquests did things that may appear similar but they were completely opposite. David eradicated communities that were so utterly wretched and diabolically sinful they the entire village was well on its way to cultural suicide and self -destruction.  Saul, on the other hand, is killing people that were working for God.  Saul is completely gone bad and is as bad off as Judas by now. 23 - notice that David, when faced with a dilemma of whether/when/how to fight back the Philistines, he pauses to inquire of God...twice.  This is something we do not see Saul doing.  This is a pattern we see over and again, especially in contrast to Saul.  David asks of God. When Saul is perplexed, he takes a poll.  He's a politician if there ever was one. David is a statesman and king in the making.  The intrigue, the cunning, the meeting with Jonathan, the strategy and countering and countering again is the stuff of legend.  This is the thinking that has David to be a folk hero the world over to this day. 24 - David shows more character when he spares Saul's life than anyone expects.  Most read this and personalize it to muse, "come on David, do it for Israel. The chump in charge needs to go now and here's your opening."  Amazing that David handles the incident in the cave the way he does, simply amazing.  Saul realizes what he is made of when he realizes how merciful David is.  Saul exclaims and confesses that David is a better man then Saul is. Biblical scholar, Dr. Halley humorously quips about this, that Saul acknowledged being a fool --- but kept on being one. 25 - Samuel dies here. Note that Samuel was the last one who had had any spiritual input into SAul's existence. And it had been a long time ago, btw.  This is the last of the last of any sign of any spiritual hope for Saul - and he (Samuel) is gone now. It is impossible to not assess this chapter; the story of Abigail and Nabal and their vastly differing treatment of David and his men, and not see the obvious.  Nabal is a stin-gy scoundrel and Abigail is gracious and honoring.  Nabal dies and Abigail becomes wife to David before the chapter is out. Eventually Abigail is living in the King's residence.  Nabal? he is composting in no time.  We need to see that it is vitally important to be about the things of God. Join in what God is doing.  When someone is immersed in the duties of the LORD and you can be of assistance, it is not wise to be one's usually crotchety self. Honor that person. Pour out for that person. Supply them as you are able. Do we want to be involved in the things of God, or do we want to be found fighting them ... like Saul.  It is dangerous to not see this and learn from Abigail and Nabal's fates here. Lord, we all go through suffering, but not as bad as David was put through. May we be writing and praying and be in the Psalms especially during difficult times.  Thank you for being with us regardless.  Amen.

Exodus 4-7 We are in The World Stream as we continue the story of Moses. We are reading from the Lexham English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis

Romans 1:1-3:20 We are in the Church Stream and we commence on the book of Romans. The Apostle Paul explains so many details to the believers in Rome. We are reading from the World English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Paul's assignment in history is to provide a clear explanation of the gospel that would be shared to all the Believers in Rome.  Remember that when Jesus died and rose, people weren't prancing and celebrating, "oh goodie, goodie. Now we are saved. The perfect sacrifice has been made, my sins have been cancelled by Christ Jesus on the Cross, yippee, now I know God really loves me ... " No, they were devastated by His death, and shocked by His coming back from the dead.  WE, on the other hand, understand Jesus' death because Paul explained what it all meant.  That is why the Church of the first century were so enamored with Paul, eager beyond description; eager as school kids at an ice cream shop to welcome him and sobbing sad tears when he departed.  It was melodrama with meaning.  Keep this in mind: explain the gospel to people and you will be revered in a way that perhaps, in many ways, only missionaries understand being revered. Paul wrote Romans from Corinth late in his 3rd Missionary Journey. The year is 57-58 A.D. [not for nothin' the Olympics were held in Corinth a few years prior so Paul is using suitable words throughout his books, "run the race, finish the course, I buffet my body, I don't box like I'm just punching the air...]. Imagine the ominous sentiment when Paul finished his "Book to The Romans", rolls it up, hands it to Phoebe ["FEE-bee"] of Cenchreae and says, "here, take this to the Believers Rome ... !"  Do we realize what hung upon this journey, of a lady traversing through a world that was not altogether safe for anyone to be traveling through; foreign places, encountering pagans, scungy cultic people were everywhere, there were bandits, warriors, brothels, taverns, ad infinitum? She arrived in Rome at least three years ahead of Paul. These are much of the same three+ years he is being held under guard in Caesarea.  This gave plenty of time for his letter to the Romans to circulate.  In God's timing, Paul was being held for a purpose.  This delay is why Paul arrives to such a hero's homecoming welcome in Acts 28:14-17.  They had read his letter and were thrilled to know what he told them. Plus he told them he was 'on his way' to see them. Almost 1,960 years later, the Book of Romans has been published in nearly 3,000 languages, 50.000.000 more copies of it get published in the USA alone EACH year! Billions and billions of copies of Romans have been published. Perhaps Phoebe was [while carrying this letter on rolled up leather] was thinking, "wow, I hope they read this. They really need to read this!"  [She did now know the immensity of what was in her hands.] We need to read it too. Another peculiar fact comes to us about Romans from the entire enterprise of smuggling Bibles and those involved.  When Bibles were smuggled into the old Soviet Union the stakes were high. Penalty of execution loomed over those who were caught with Scripture. So when things became more dicey, only the New Testament was snuck in.  When the intensity rose yet further, the cargo was reduced to take in only The Book of Romans. When certain life or death was on the line, they only brought in Romans ch. 3. The Communists knew that they would never succeed in their plans if the population understood that they were justified and saved by grace in Jesus Christ. [not the State]  So today we read/"red" Romans 1-3:20.  I think the Devil himself shudders over such truth. Listen again if you need to. WE say all that to say this: do not read Romans and shrug, "ok, we're saved, cool, whatever."  Our destinies - ALL of our destinies hang upon our understanding of the Book of Romans!  Read Romans again and again.  And read it to the whole world. An encouraging projection is that "if the gospel can 'fly' in Rome, it will fly in any city. Romans 1 - opens with a single long sentence that covers seven verses. All that is to say: It's from Paul. It's about Jesus Christ. It's to Rome.  THAT is what this letter is about.  And it would change the capitol of the world.   The whole chapter asserts that sin is everywhere and everyone is involved in sin. If there was ever dark activity going on in the world at the time, it was going on in Rome. The verses speak to a dark world and a dark leadership careening the world into ever horrendous behavior.  Even today, governments and lurid interest groups are offended by Paul's assertions in chapter one.  It's because they are true.  The "not ashamed of the gospel" verse in the middle is added because people were questioning him about Jesus' crucifixion. It was a shameful thing to them. No one follows a leader who was a criminal that was executed.  Only false Messiahs and leaders die as crooks.  False movements were revealed by leaders who turned out to be false, got discovered and were executed. Paul should be ashamed of this (in some people's minds). Paul wasn't. Thus we have the famous Romans 1:16 in the middle of the opening chapter. 2 - The new ethic under Jesus applies to everyone. People of Jewish Heritage included. Many in Rome who were Jews that had come there thought they had inside track with God, and thought they had a say in who is saved and who is not.  Paul was telling them, along with the rest, "uh, you need this grace in Christ too! Quit acting like you're better than the newcomers."  Think that God justified Abraham simply for believing and worshiping. That is it. And Abraham is justified 600 years before Moses wrote up any law. This is a reality check.  Paul doesn't explain that here but it certainly applies to the assumptions the "old guard" in the new church are living by as they are looking down on new comers who are justified by Christ alone. Perhaps they were scoffing that it shouldn't be this easy for them. Judgment is coming. No one will be excused. All secrets will be laid open before God.  And only this who are IN CHRIST will be justified. 3 - the significance of the Jews is a beautiful picture here. God needed to come to us via a race. He couldn't have just splattered his gospel to all 6000 cultures at once. It would have been interpreted as diversely as the gods of India where there are millions of them.  A people needed to be shouldered with the responsibility of maintaining the Scriptures. The Jewish people embraced this assignment and became "the people of The Book."  There assignment was something to be revered - it was not something to be haughty about. For they had practiced the Law for 1450 years only to prove that the Law cannot be humanly upheld. A Savior and an ultimate one at that was needed for all.  For no one is righteous, no one. And no one is justified by The Law.  The Law only proves there is a problem to be solved. The theme for this week distills out to be "things have changed. now, what are you going to do?"  Jacob and then Joseph die at the end of Genesis, years pass, The friendly Egyptians pass, invaders come in, New Egyptians arise who are mean, who enslave and kill. Are you going to be whipped forever? what are you going to do?   David in I Sam. 17ff faces a killer of a giant. Will he be a giant-killer? -or run away? Then King Saul wants him dead, then the whole army is looking for him. He is the anointed King, for heaven's sake and has to play the fugitive. Really? Now what!?  Later, David writes Psalm 18 and the following praises right after he is crowned king (the seven years running from Saul had ended). And he is praising God. Not a word of complaint or whining, no "hey God what was that all about? Y'Trying to scare me?!" He's completely in charge and his attitude is, basically, "with malice toward none. With charity for all..."  Isaiah talks of and walks them through some very serious matters. It's what is coming for them. So what are they going to do? Amid this Isaiah talks of a suffering servant Savior ... will they reject Him too? What will they do ??!  Hosea is in pain. He approaches his adulterous wife who's in another man's home. Will she come home? Hosea's heart is broken.  Will she do this to him forever? [will we break God's heart forever?].  Matthew walks us through the arrest, trial and crucifixion.  Our teacher/leader/Messiah is dead. Now what? Woo, he's back and wants us to go to all the world .... and associate with pagans? all our life? really? Oh, you are going to be WITH US?!  My oh my things are changing.  The Romans receive the best explanation of the gospel in the world.  It has some rattling parts to it, though. You are justified by what Jesus has done - not what you have done; bragging is overwith. To the Jews, you are still the chosen, not the favorite, but still the chosen and the first.  Will you help others grow in God? Lord, we can count on you and you only. Thank you for salvation and for your faithfulness. Amen.

Matthew 27-28 Today we are in the Christ Stream and we will finish the book of Matthew. We will cover our first reading of the crucifixion and resurrection as we read from the World English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streasm | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Today we read of what the world has been waiting thousands of years for.  History builds to this event.  The remainder of history reflects back on this event and draws inspiration to finish our call of Destiny. 27  - is the trial, crucifixion, and burial.  We are going to look at some of the distinctions of the other gospels compared to Matthew this time through.  If you wish to reference some of this, they are Mk 15, Lk 23, Jn. 18 Matthew says the chief priests and elders took counsel.  They had already met with Annas and Caiaphas and been convinced that it was better for one man to die instead of the whole nation...wrong intentions but they did supply the right answer.  They want him dead but they want Pilate to drop the gavel. Only Matthew gives detail of Judas here. Keep in mind that Matthew was a government worker prior to being a disciple -and the only one of the 12 to be so. Legal matters are more of an issue to him than to Mark, Luke and John.  All the disciples were from Galilee in the north except one; Judas.  Interesting that Matthew is possibly making an insinuation here about where "faithful ones" come from and vice versa.  When Matthew tells of him before the governor, John is describing this scene in much greater detail as being before Pilate, the discourse, the back and forth, and the frustration of all involved. From here Matthew tells the most in describing Barabbas, while John merely mentions him. Only Luke describes the scene of him in front of Herod. Matthew tells of the crown of thorns and the mocking as does Mk and John.  Lk doesn't have that part.  At this point only John tells of Pilate being practically desperate to release Jesus as he addresses the crowd and then Jesus, back and forth. Finally Pilate delivers Jesus to them and washes his hands [only in Matthew] to symbolize that the guilt of killing Jesus is not on him. Only Matthew and Mk reference Jesus being scourged/whipped, but all four gospels say that Pilate then handed him over to be crucified.  Luke gives the most dialogue from when Jesus is going from Pilate to Golgotha (the Hebrew word for "skull").  "Calvary" comes from a Latin derivative; a translation that plays out later. Jesus is offered wine mixed with gall -Mark calls the gall--> myrrh.  And then He is crucified The sign "This is Jesus, King of the Jews" is placed above him.  Mk /Lk only reference "... King of the Jews".  Matthew describes the whole sign for his gospel is written specifically to tell Jesus story to the Jews living in Israel/Jerusalem. [Mark writes to Jews everywhere, Luke write to Greeks, John writes to the whole world (Jn.3:16, "God so loved ...the what?"  John [alone] describes the bantering over Jesus' outfit. Mt, Mk, Lk all tell of Jesus being scoffed at; while Matthew tells the most about the derision. The thieves beside Jesus are merely mentioned by Mt./Mk.  Luke is the one who fully describes the dialogue between the two thieves and their contrasting attitudes. And Luke is the only one who describes the beautiful dialogue between Jesus and the penitent thief.  "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" is one of the most beautiful things ever spoken.  It is also a marvelous testament to "being saved by grace". The death of Jesus is told by all four who focus and highlight various things distinctively.  Matthew gives the greatest description of the natural phenomenon: curtain tearing, earthquake, ground splitting, tombs breaking open, and multiple resurrections!  Only John tells of Jesus' side being pierced. Matthew gives the least detail about Jesus' burial, but he is the only one to tell of the issue of guards at the tomb and more guards being added. 28 - Looking only through Matthew for the finale~ here, He tells of the women going to the tomb, the earthquake (more nature detail), and the angels informing them of Jesus Resurrection.  Now they must also go tell the others. Then Jesus appears to them! and also tells them to tell the disciples that He's alive and they must go to Galilee to meet Him there.  Hey, what better assignment to give to a group of ladies? What do they love better than spreading good news with no other agenda but to be spreading good news.  God knows how to spread the word around, eh?! Meanwhile there's a scheme afloat back among the chief priests to spread false rumors about the Resurrection being faked.  -- good luck with that. Jesus had other appearances, but Matthew focuses on the Galilee scene next to highlight the Great Commission mainly.  He tells them to take this gospel to the whole world and to obey all His commands and assures them that He will be with them always until the End of the Age.   These words have motivated more action than any other sentence ever spoken.  Hundreds of thousands come to Christ daily even today because of this word from Jesus.  It triggers more missions and publishing and evangelism and salvations and related activity of ministry than any other single thing ever ... ONE SENTENCE.  Matthew is so focused on making this the finale~ of his book that he ends with it.  'doesn't even mention Jesus going up and ascending back to God.  Good Heavens.  We need to obey this verse here. Lord, you went through it all so we would have all of you and take all of you to all of the world.  Thank you for being with us still and that you always will.  Amen