Consider this

                Much of the book of Revelation is confusing. However, some things are not only clear, but critical to our understanding of God’s message.                 In chapter five, John sees a vision of the throne room of heaven in which a mighty angel appears and asks, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (verse 2).   The scroll contains the message of God.   It needs to be heard.   Unfortunately, though they search heaven and earth, no one can do the job (verse 3).                 Then, something changes.   John is told that, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah… has triumphed.   He is able to open the scroll” (verse 5).   This lion represents Jesus and, when you think about it, that makes perfect sense.   Lions are fierce, strong and powerful!   When John wants to assure the Christians that Jesus is in charge and c

                Many people think that God is harsh, mean and demanding.   As evidence of this, they point to incidences where people did not follow the exact letter of the law and God punished them on the spot.   While those stories do exist, let me tell you a different story.                 For years, God’s people had neglected him.   Then, in 715 BC, a new king, a 25-year-old named Hezekiah, came to the throne.   He re-opened the temple and invited everyone to Jerusalem to celebrate the great feast called “Passover”.   There were a few problems though.                 First, they had waited too long.   Passover was to be held on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year.   That date was too close, so they decided that they would celebrate on the fourteenth day of the second month instead (2 Chronicles 30:2).                 Second,

                Not long after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, so many people were becoming Christians that the leaders in Jerusalem decided that they needed to act.   They had some of the church leaders put to death and others, like Peter, were arrested (Acts 12:2).                   Late one night, God freed Peter from the prison (see Acts 12:1-10) and, once he was outside, he knew exactly what to do.   “He went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying” (verse 12).   That one little reference raises several points.                 First, how did Peter know where to go?   There are only two answers: either someone told him that they were meeting at Mary’s house, or that is where they always met.   Either way, in a time when Christians were being arrested and even executed, it is remarkabl

                When invited to someone’s home for a meal, most people ask, “What can we bring?”   Everyone likes to contribute something.                 Figuring out what to bring is easy when you are talking about a meal.   However, there are other situations where the answer is not quite as obvious.   We know that something needs to be done, but we do not know where to start.   We want to help, but we are not certain that we have anything to offer.   In those cases, scripture has one simple answer:   Bring your heart!   When we engage our hearts, we start a process that inserts God into the equation.                 Matthew 9:35-36 states that, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on