Don't let the drama obscure the drama.

How clearly do you understand your role in life's greatest drama?Is your vision of life's greatest drama being enhanced or just obscured by all the lesser drama? There is no shortage of lesser drama and though it may be used to enhance, it often distorts, the most important drama of our lives.  If our attention is not completely absorbed by lesser drama we can import more from media, or our imagination, or under the influence of both ...we can get creative and make up some for ourselves.

There is an important drama in the universe, it counts for way more than the fluff we are so often distracted with.  This drama is of far greater importance than the self-centered non-sense that can so easily be drawn up to  grandstand our misguided sense of self-importance. The real drama is about God as the effective creator of a good creation, and the honor that is due Him.

Slander, rather than honor, is the business of the adversary. We see in scripture that Satan "the adversary" makes it his business to slander God before man (Genesis 3:4,5) and to slander man before God (Job 1:11, 2:5).  He slanders God and God's creation.   I suspect that there is some wickedness in this slandering of, either God, or his creature, that we are often numb to.  This brash, slanderous spirit was present in the religious Jews who disregarded the full authority of Jesus. Jude addressed them in this way:

Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile glories. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgement, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these men revile the things which they do not understand...                                                                  

 As submissive creatures we are called to a high standard in the area of proper respect.  Our respect and disrespect for God and His creatures is on display in the drama; along with our loyalty and disloyalty.  Jesus Christ is, and will be, the demonstration that both God and His creation are legitimate. You are either for him or against him. If you are for him then you ought to demonstrate it as a witness while this great drama unfolds.  The tension is not about my reputation or your reputation first, it is about God. God's intended end is already in sight -Jesus. But what about you and me? Are we in Christ by loyalty to Him, or against him by disloyalty?  Does the slanderer have room to slander God and creation?  What is your testimony?   We as individuals are not the centerpeice of the real drama, but each of us is playing one role or another of great importance. Christian, play your role well. May God help us do that.

Who has time to build a surfboard when there is an eternal gospel to be preached?

"...and because [Paul] was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.  (Act 18:3)

Who has time to build a surfboard when there is an eternal gospel to be preached? Well, maybe I do.  Recently, I have revived an old busy -ness.  Building Jam Surfboards is fun, hard work, and at the moment not all that lucrative.  But, if up and kicking, it may generate income that would help maintain the present ministry track that we are on. We will see.  After a decade of being on the pastoral staff of an extraordinarily faithful church in Shreveport, Louisiana, we moved to Oceanside with a plan to gather together a simple congregation of people to be centered around Jesus Christ. This plan has been very important to us because Jesus is the one uniquely sent and approved by God the Father to be the savior.  And he is saving, even today, all who come to him in faith.  So, we thank God that He has joined us together with several individuals here in Oceanside that we never would have met if  we had not made the move. And now we gather together as a small congregation, growing in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thinking about building boards has me looking back at Paul. I am certainly glad he did not get  encumbered with tent making  and lose track of his mission. There seems to be a scriptural tension between the busyness of the world, and the beautiful feet of the gospel bearers.  I would like to explore that further.  For now, I reckon we should be thankful that Paul, and all Christian workers, are part of a greater cause; greater and more urgent than merely making a good tent...or a good surfboard.

New Edit on a Literary Chiasm in Matthew

Chiastic Structure of Matthew 17.1-21.17

 Jeff Miller

 @.  Affirmation of Jesus’ Identity… misrepresentation of identity thru temple/shrine corrected…a touch on theme of rejection. 17.1-13

    #. Representative Israelite  healed by Jesus who overcomes inadequacy of those representing Israel at large. 17. 14-18

     $. Disciples: "Why can't we dominate?" Jesus: "You can't, but you can...through the way of fidelity." 17. 19-21

       %. Rejection, crucifixion, resurrection foretold. 17. 22

         &. Kingdom hierarchy and Kingdom authority with a story illustrating a Kingdom emphasis on getting "All In".  17. 24 – 18. 35

           *. Being “lawfully accomplished” in pursuits of this age looks impossible by the law of Christ…disciples object…Jesus offers help. 19.1-12

    x. Let children come to Jesus, hungry, dependent, loyally-acknowledging Him; of such is heaven’s government 19.13-15

                   

           *.' Being “lawfully accomplished”  looks impossible by the law of Christ…disciples object…Jesus offers help. 19.16-26

         &.' Kingdom hierarchy and Kingdom authority with a story illustrating a Kingdom emphasis on getting "All In".  19.27 – 20.16

       %.' Rejection, crucifixion, resurrection foretold. 20: 17-19

     $.'  Disciples: "Why can't we dominate?" Jesus: "You can't, but you can...through the way of fidelity." 20: 20- 28

    #.' Representative Israelite  healed by Jesus who overcomes inadequacy of those representing Israel at large. 20: 29-34

 @.' Affirmation of Jesus’ Identity… misrepresentation of identity thru temple/shrine corrected…a touch on theme of rejection. 17.1-13