Yearly Archives: 2016

VOTD.04.04.16 Magdalene: True Worshipper

Then He said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”  Luke 7:50

We’ve been looking at the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7. “Go in peace.” Jesus said to her. What healing power can be found in those three words. And she did. The unwelcome party crasher experienced real peace. Redemptive peace. For the first time in her difficult life she was free, clean, and forgiven. The peace that “passes all understanding” was hers. No more condemnation and no more shame. No more seeking human approval . . . she had Jesus’ approval. How many of us can say the same?

We’ve been looking at a very intimate picture of worship provided to us in Luke 7 of a woman who came and anointed Jesus’ feet.

(more…)

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Album Review: The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger

The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger Album Cover
The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger

I am a person with many ‘favorite albums’.  But very few of my ‘favorite albums’ carry the power that Steffany Gretzinger’s The Undoing has.  Along with the good instrumentation and Steffany’s powerful voice and intense passion, it also has a unique Holy Spirit anointing that is hard to find elsewhere.  It is an excellent album for anyone going through a hard season where the process is seeming to get endless and it feels like you’re never getting to your ‘promised land’.  If that is you, you might find The Undoing a very helpful album for worshipping through the process.

 

 

Quick Stats

 

Pros: It’s ‘different’ from (more…)

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VOTD.03.29.16 Magdalene Crashes a Party pt 2

I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven. . . for she loved much. Luke 7:47

Last time, we talked about a woman anointing Jesus in the early part of his ministry who tradition tells us was Magdalene—the woman who became the first one to see the resurrected Jesus. She slipped into a dinner party at the house of Simon the Pharisee and wept Jesus feet clean and dried them with her hair; then she anointed his feet with expensive perfume.

Jesus was pleased by her actions. But the host and his invited guests were not so pleased by this unorthodox display of adoration. Were they uncomfortable? Mary was lost in the deep worship of Jesus. Perhaps a genuine display of Mary’s raw emotion troubled them. They had their own emotion: Anger. (more…)

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VOTD.03.28.16 Magdalene Crashes a Party, Pt. 1

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7: 48

We’re looking at the life of Magdalene, the Mary who Jesus revealed Himself to first, when He was resurrected. What was it about her that Jesus was pursuing her so ardently?

Amazingly, instead of focusing on us trying to pursue Jesus, Jesus is pursuing a particular kind of worshiper: People who are desperately submerged in the total adoration of their God and King.

Last time we mentioned that there were events that set Magdalene apart from Jesus’ 12 disciples. Not much is said in the Bible about Magdalene by name, but tradition has it that 2 anonymous events that are recorded in the Bible were in actuality, events that happened to Magdalene. We’ll look at one of those events this week: (more…)

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Album Review: “Brave New World” by Amanda Cook

It’s been a long time since I had a favorite album.

 

But Amanda Cook’s (nee Falk) most recent release, Brave New World, has become a favorite since it came out last September.  I can’t put my finger on why; it’s not the lyrics, the instrumentation, or brilliant arrangements.  They’re all excellent quality.  But there’s just something about the feel of the album that brings me back every time, that, quite simply, makes the album a definite favorite.

 

Quick Stats:

Pros

Excellent (more…)

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VOTD.03.22.16 Magdalene’s Devotion

The disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.  John 20:10,11

Last time I wrote about my interest in Mary who was call Magdalene. What was it about her that Jesus decided to appear to her first after His resurrection? He sent angels to appear to others, but He, Himself, appeared to her first.

And while we’re on the subject, don’t believe everything you see in the movies: the structure of the text where Magdalene is talked about in the Gospels makes it a near certainty that she was older than Jesus’ mother, Mary. Her relationship with Jesus wasn’t a youthful, romantic infatuation as some movies and dramas suggest. (more…)

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VOTD.03.21.16 “I’m BA-aaaack”

Jesus traveled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him, and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), was one of them; from her seven demons had been driven out. Luke 8:1,2

It always surprises me when I consider Mary Magdalene. Relatively little is said about her in the Bible, yet Jesus chose her to be the first person to whom He revealed Himself after His resurrection. Her testimony (story) graphically shows how those who claim to love Jesus—those who have followed His teachings, have lived in intimacy with Him, and are eye-witnesses of His miracles—can respond to Him in two totally different ways.

The difference goes deeper than (more…)

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VOTD.03.15.16 Be Thankful

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be
thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews
12:28

According to today’s verse we are receiving the kingdom of God… the very presence of the King is being received by us… not just once, a long time ago at an alter, but continuously, right now…

Since we are receiving the presence and majesty of Jesus on a continual basis, “Let us be thankful”. What an understatement!

But there are things that get in the way of our thankfulness. There are some things (more…)

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VOTD.03.14.16 Trust Me

Trust in Me. John 14:1

I felt a wave of pain as a mom told me her family had been removed from the church they had attended and worked in for many years. She had no idea why. There had been no trouble up until a month their expulsion, and even then she and her husband had tried to determine what the problem was, but got evasive answers like “Why don’t you tell us…”

As a family who had had their trust betrayed, they felt unique. Unfortunately, they aren’t. I know of many others in similar situations. Some were the pastoral family. Some were congregants. All felt their trust was betrayed. All were concerned (more…)

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VOTD.03.08.16 Believe in Me

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” John 11:25,26

There is life after death (1 Cor 15:19). The Bible is unequivocal about that. This truth gives us a faith that takes us beyond the grave. Resurrected bodies, worshiping Jesus for ever and ever. Nonetheless, the Gospel is not waiting for our physical deaths in order to kick into action. In the Gospel, there is a message of life after death that applies to this life, today.

There is life after the death of a loved one in this life. There is life after the death of a job in this life. There is life after the death of your dream, your finances, a treasured relationship (more…)

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