Fall Creek Christian Church

"Jesus said, 'My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.'  Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.  One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.  'Put away your sword,' Jesus told him.  'Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.  Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us and he would send them instantly?  But if I did, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?'"  Matthew 26:50-54 As the tires spun wildly, the truck made absolutely no forward progress.  The snow and ice were not impressed with horsepower or towing capacity.  As the tires began to smoke, I caught myself saying, "Gentle ... gentle ... gentle"  Why?  Simply, the faster the tires spun the less traction they had.  The power needed to be restrained. In our verses for the day, we see this same principle at work. ...

"Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions.  He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people.  He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.  These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes.  They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves."     Exodus 18:24-26 There are moments when I feel like I have it all figured out.  Moments when my understanding is full and complete void of any blind spots whatsoever.  Moments when they are wrong and I am right.  These are the moments when I am at my worst.   Moses is described in the Bible as one of the most humble people who ever lived.  Today's verses reveal this quality of humility in Moses in unmistakable terms.  He was teachable.  He didn't feel the need to impress his father-in-law with his newfound celebrity...

"The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, 'You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.'  When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, 'May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.'"   Ex. 5:19-21 On more than one occasion in my life, as a child and as an adult, I've made every effort to do exactly what I was supposed to do only to find myself experiencing negative consequences.  I expected affirmation.  I received criticism.  I anticipated forward progress only to experience crash and burn.  "What is this all about!?", I asked myself.  I was following the directions, sticking to the plan and then ... Wham! The verses today reveal Moses and Aaron standing in those same pair of shoes.  They told Pharaoh exactly what God told them to say. They pe...

"They said to one another, 'Surely we are being punished because of our brother.  We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this disaster has come upon us."  Genesis 42:21 I don't know why I did it.  Honestly, as a first grader, it was more simple impulse than calculated plan.  My neighbor had a silver dollar collection and I wanted one so I took it.  Like Poe's "beating heart" that coin haunted me until the day I discreetly returned it to its rightful owner.   In this one verse snapshot of a much longer story, Joseph's brothers found themselves in a world of hurt.  Their conclusion? ... We are getting what we deserve for the horrible wrong we have done.  They ignored their brother's cries when they sold him into slavery.  He begged.  He cried.  He pleaded. They didn't care ... then that is.  But now?  They were haunted.  They were steeped in regret.  A...

"Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.  And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness.  He felt great compassion for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help.  They were like sheep without a shepherd."      Matthew 9:35-38 As a kid, it somehow makes sense to get into a rock throwing fight with other kids.  The story of Goliath should have alerted me to the potentially harmful outcomes of such an endeavor.  Yet, the rock battle was engaged.  It lasted until I, like the unusually large aforementioned Bible character, caught one of those stones with my forehead.  This predictable outcome was followed by a steady stream of blood and terrified panic.  Fortunately, there was a sweet lady who lived near the war zone who opened her door to me and ten...

"Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai, and his grandson Lot and left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan.  But they stopped instead at the village of Haran and settled there.  Terah lived for 205 years and died while still at Haran."  Genesis 11:31-32 I had a grand vision.  Each and every item on the shelves categorized, organized, and prioritized. Dirt and dust removed. Window scrubbed. Floor immaculate. Tools in their places with bright shiny faces.  After all, a man's garage is his kingdom. The plan continued to take shape as the summer days rolled on by. Unfortunately, distractions and excuses mounted with each passing day. The plan never went forward. I stopped instead. We aren't told why Abraham's daddy decided to got to Canaan, only that he did.  We aren't told why he " stopped instead ", only that he did.  He "died while  still at  Haran."  Hmm ... Given that God showed up after he died and told his son...

"'When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!' says the Lord Almighty. 'Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you.  But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?' asks the Lord Almighty."  Malachi 1:8-9 I'm too tired, too busy, too wounded, too afraid, too ashamed, too inexperienced, too distracted, too broke, too angry, too ...  At one point or another in my life, I've selected from this list of "toos" to explain why I wouldn't extend my best to God. Looking at them now, I see them for what they are - a thinly veiled attempt to make life and living about me. Malachi had the thankless job of breaking the bad news to the people.  He was brutally honest.  Their diseased sacrifices revealed their diseased hearts.  Ouch!  They had lost sight ...