The Seven Streams Method

Hosea 5:1-6:10 We are in the Exile Stream today reading from the Good News Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, we find ourselves in a world today that is increasingly ungodly; ungodly just like the people we hear people Hosea addressing.  Teach us how to reach out to a population that is encouraged to go bad.  Let us be Light in the darkness and live effectively to see people come to you.  Amen.

5 - The people of Israel; the northern kingdom are intent on doing wrong all of them top to bottom Priests, the king, the population and I mean ALL the people are in sin.  The leaders are particularly culpable for leading the nation into idolatrous rebellion and God is going to punish the whole lot of them. They're so ill-bent on doing wrong God talks that He doesn't even want them to come and worship in the state they are in.  They are in such a bad way they are unable to repent.  This is bad; really bad. God has had enough of these people.  God is also disturbed how Israel and Judah have turned on one another. God is about to abandon them and let them suffer for awhile.  Maybe they will "listen" to the suffering and repent ....?

6 - The people are utterly dark and seem to have no idea how far they have fallen, nor how idolatrous they are, nor how disobedient they are.  They have been aggressively idolatrous for about two centuries and they think that acting religious and making sacrifices is going to cover for all the wretchedness and murder and their national commitment to stay this way; phony, double-minded and sinful.  Think of this: these people are more interested in managing [and feeding] their sin than finding their God and walking with him.  It's astonishing.

Isaiah 60-64 We are in the Prophetic Stream today getting close to the end of the book of Isaiah. We are using the Good News Translation this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis The section today bursts forth as a song of the Messianic Age.  The Lord is here and in full and good news is spreading over all the earth and the illustration spills right into being the glory of heaven.

60 - Isaiah is one of the greatest writers that ever lived and this is certainly among Isaiah's sections. It's even among the most wonder-filled chapters in the whole Bible.  It talks of a grand gathering, people and wealth are coming to Jerusalem, the testifying, the sacrifices, it's the homecoming of history and "the LORD will make His Temple more glorious than ever " v. 7. There will be great service in Jerusalem. When the chapter morphs into talk that can only be interpreted as paradise itself with unimpeded access to God it is altogether a marvel. 61 - What we read in the first three verses of 61 is Isaiah talking of Jesus.  Jesus knows it is Him and quotes this when He is speaking in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:18f).  This is prophecy fulfilled 700 years later.  This is a time of great restoration.  The Messianic theme that actually started in Isaiah 59:20 is still proceeding.  Israel will have servants, and wealth, and joy.  The praises to the LORD will be coming from all nations - the testimony of what God has done in this one nation will amaze the whole earth that much. 62 - The splendor here is the imagery of a wedding.  It is enchanting as a wedding also. The symbolism is matched in ways by John's writing at the end of Revelation when "the New Jerusalem" is coming down like a bride preparing to meet her husband. The surprises and excitement of a reunion also come into play too. There is food; bread and wine in abundance and phenomenal worship.  Is it fine to call this a dinner/theater gone into a colossal mode?!  And most of all the LORD is coming to save. 63 - there is a peculiar insertion here - a mentioning of Edom; it could be a reference to all the enemies of God and Jerusalem who will be trampled and defeated permanently. It is certainly a break in the literature to interrupt all the glory and worship and celebration to put this in such a run of wonderful things.  However it is part of celebrating to defeat an enemy, and revel with our victorious LORD.  Isaiah resumes abruptly; talking of the goodness and love of the LORD and his precise care and provision. The chapter ends with a prayer for mercy; beseeching God to treat them according to God's goodness v.s. their character and lack thereof. This is a theme we have seen before in Isaiah. 64 - and Shazzam, 64 arrives and we are not looking way forward to glorious things and themes and events. Isaiah just wants God to show and make himself known.  Things are difficult; attitudes across the nation are crass, the city is in ruins, beautiful places have been deserted and Isaiah is pleading for the LORD to come to them.

Psalm 28-33 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading through the psalms. We are using the Good News Translation this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis |#7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis 28 - "give praise to the Lord for he has heard my cry for help." is the core of this Psalm.  It is a prayer. It is thanksgiving for God answering prayer. David is urging people to be grateful and devoted to God. God saves and protects and David is blessed by this.

29 - is a very audio centered Psalm, it is filled with reminders of the sounds that God makes through what He has created: seas, thundering, echoes, lightning, trees in the wind.  Many are not drawn to God by such things, perhaps.  But David is so focused on God that any sound has David pause to reflect, "wow, listen to what God is doing now!" He has a childlike faith and wonder about him that shows up all the time in David's life and pilgrimage. 30 - David has come through so much turmoil and brushes with death and battles and chaos and treachery.  And it all comes back to him as he has just taken Jerusalem and made it the capitol.  His palace will be there in Jerusalem.  This event happens early in II Samuel.  But the decision to settle and make this the center of the young nation - that and the dedication of David's palace was the occasion of Psalm 30 being written. [Don't confuse this with the Temple - his son Solomon did that a few decades later] 31 - This issue here is prayer, trust and looking to God for protection.  It has been said of David, and for many reasons, that he learned better than probably anyone that he knew best that when God was all you had, you then realized that God is all you need. God was David's Savior, defense, refuge, and shelter. David turned to God in the midst of any and every event or emotion he was going through.  He saw God as his caregiver.  None of the "if it's to be, it's up to me" touting.  David's hymn was "I did it Thy Way" v.s. the American tune that was popular in the 1900's.  The Lord is faithful and deserves our response of love for Him. 32 - David's sin with Bathsheba and the full realization of the gravity that David had descended to is what prompted him to write Psalm 51.  David going through the confession process and finding restoration and relief and healing prompted him to write this one; Psalm 32.  David's remorse had run its course and David realized the full depth and height of God's forgiveness by now.  His joy in the Lord was returning. 33 - This is a song of joy and praise and thanksgiving that seems to ring clear up to heaven.  The joy of walking with God makes each step a wonder.  The joy of the Lord spreads to everything everywhere.  All nature and the sky too brings out the praise.  God is such a marvel! Lord God of Heaven, you truly are good to us. You give us your righteousness and you strengthen us to live in joy and with that strength we can praise you more and more and praising you gives us joy to praise you yet more.  You a our marvelous God.  Amen.

I Samuel 26-31 We are in The Nation Stream today finishing the book of I Samuel. We are reading from the Good News Translation this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams David is such a man of upstanding character.  His years of solitude with God when he was young reflect in his behavior again and again. He is a skilled musician, a worshipper, a warrior who kills lions and bears and giants, he leads and rallies and inspires, he has cunning logic and people skills, and when he has a chance at killing someone who hates him with a vengeance ... he doesn't kill him!  Twice he opts not to kill his would-if he-could executioner. The fact that such a fighter is so gracious  and statesman-like is astonishing to anyone who understands human nature.

26 - Again, David is peering over a sleeping Saul and, with weapon in hand, he just walks away with the spear as evidence.  This is scarier than one might think.  David and friends have snuck in at night and walked through a filled camp. One man waking and shouting would have David killed without question. 'Guts and daring' could be added to the list of superlative traits that can be attached to David. The results following the revelation are similar. Saul talks admiringly and penitent as possible amid the embarrassment. Saul is such an obviously hollow soul. And there he is talking solicitous - surrounded by the soldiers he roused to help him go and kill a young man who could have killed him but didn't. The difference between Israel's current king that they chose, and the future one that God directed Samuel to anoint are as different as night and day to put it lightly. 27 - David was never again pursued by Saul after Saul was humiliated by David's kindness a second time.  But he doesn't know that Saul will never seek him again. Any time that Saul had ever been kind to David, it was a total lie. Saul was plotting. David, not knowing that Saul had resigned to leave David be, thought there was still a threat and he left for Philistia. He remained in that region until Saul was gone and he was enthroned king. During his years there he was a raider. Perhaps this was practice for when it was his assignment to expand the borders of Israel to the largest they would ever be. The Philistine king ended up trusting David. This is strange stuff but it is what is going on at this time. 28 - Meanwhile Saul makes his final pathetic error and it turns out to be what seals his doom. He goes to see a witch. He is terrified because warriors of Philistia have gathered against him. Samuel is gone, God isn't answering and he is wondering what is next. He knew witchcraft was wrong and had expelled them from the country. Yet Saul himself goes to see one. It's a fatal transgression and he will end up being killed in a day for his disobedience.  Saul never was one to obey the Lord. 29 - And back among the Philistines, David is endeared to Achish the Philistine king by now. Achish wants David to go with him to the next battle. He practically sees David as a token of good fortune and could use him. This is all convenient in Achish's mind, but the other Philistine Kings don't really know David except that he is an Israelite in hiding and therefore they don't trust him. The issue of loyalty is an undying matter for all time isn't it? David and Achish talk and realize it's the better part of wisdom for David to return back to the coast of Philistia and sit this one out. 30 - David returned home after his conversation two days prior with Achish and his refuge town of Ziklag had been razed to the ground. Everything was stolen, all people had been kidnapped, possessions gone, anything left was burned. There was panic and grief among his 600 men who were planning to kill him.  It was the worst day of David's life and y'might want to read the book by this similar title. David went straight to God as he had spent his whole life training himself to do and v. 6 says, "...but the Lord his God gave him great courage."  David acts properly and quickly and recovers everything.  He again is humble and gracious amid great victory - and he shares all that is recovered from the Amalekites who had plundered his residence of Ziklag.  Keep in mind these are the Amalekites of whom Saul was ordered to rid from the earth - but as has been well established, Saul just can't seem to obey. 31 - Saul is drawn into his final battle. Think: Who killed Saul? God? Philistines? The Philistines did wound him physically to the point of no return. But it was Saul's disobedience and refusal to be anchored in God his savior - that's what wounded him. And it was only a matter of time to where Saul killed himself. God brought him up and provided for him over and over. God spared him via David's graciousness. Saul just outright could not do what he was told to do. He would not stand in for God and be a responsible King. Saul only looked out for himself and sought legitimacy through man's approval.  We need to come to the end of observing Saul's life and ask, "where does disobedience take us." Dear Holy Spirit, may we be shepherded by you and be found with a soul that is yielded and listening to you for our next step and our every move.  Amen.

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.