Ch. 6: Philip

July 29, 2008 at 11:42 am (Books)

Philip is the 5th name on every list.  MacArthur states this shows he is the leader of the second-closest group to Jesus.  He played a minor role compared to the 4 already mentioned, but he emerges from the larger group as well.  The Gospel of John is the only one that records anything about Philip.  What we find is that he was a practical person.  He was all about the facts and figures, not so much forward-thinking.  He also tended to be narrow-minded and pessimistic at times.

According to John 1:43 Jesus sought Philip and invited him to join them.  He was the first disciple Jesus actually physcially looked for.  Philip’s response was to go to Nathanael and tell him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  He believed immediately and told his friend.  The ease with which Philip believed is out of character for him.  God must have greatly prepared his heart to meet Jesus.  Here are some examples of why that was so out of character:

  • Feeding the 5000: Jesus specifically asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed the people.  Philip seems to be the one in charge of those matters – making food and lodging arrangements.  MacArthur suggests Philip had already been counting heads when he saw the multitudes pouring in and realized it was late in the day.  So, when Jesus asked him Philip already knew in his head it was impossible for them to feed this crowd.  Instead of thinking about how great it was that the crowd was gathering to hear Jesus he was preoccupied with the impossibility of feeding them.  Jesus already knew how Philip would respond and what He Himself would do (as John 6:6 states), but he wanted Phlip to realize how he responded to those situations.  MacArhur says Philip “knew too much arithmetic to be adventurous.  The reality of the raw facts clouded his faith.”  He needed to learn to lay aside the common-sense and grab faith at times.
  • Visit from the Greeks: There were some Greeks who came to Jerusalem to worship God during Passover.  This was the passover where Jesus would die on the cross.  These Greeks came to Philip to ask if they could meet Jesus.  Philip did not know the protocol for such an occasion, so he went to Andrew to ask him what to do.  He missed a blessing because he wasn’t sure it was right to take them to Jesus.  It would have been wrong to turn them away, and he should have known that.
  • Upper Room: Jesus had just proclaimed to be the way to the Father and that nobody could come to God otherwise and that if they had known Him they would have known His Father.  In response Philip states, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” (John 14:8)  Jesus had just said if they knew Jesus then they knew the Father.  What was Philip thinking?  He had really seen the Father the last 3 years as he followed Jesus.  He was so enthusiastic to believe that Jesus was the true Messiah, but where did his faith go that night?

Jesus used even this man who thought practically instead of living by faith.  He made him a great preacher, and multitudes came to Christ from his preaching.  Most say he was stoned to death in Phrygia 8 years after James.

Philip is the disciple I identify with the most to this point.  I think very practically, sometimes to the detriment of my faith.  I tend to naturally think about what I (or others) can or can’t do rather than what God can do.  I really believe I, too, would have told Jesus it was impossible to feed all of those people if He had asked me.  That’s when I’ve learned to live by faith, though… when I deem things impossible I lean on God more.  So, what really gets me in trouble is when I think I can do it myself and I can’t.

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Ch. 5: John

July 29, 2008 at 9:56 am (Books)

John wrote a lot of the New Testament.  He outlived all of the other disciples.  He was also James’ brother, another “Son of Thunder,” so almost all of the personality traits James held John does, too.  Both of them wanted to call fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans, and both started the debate of who would be the greatest.  He also told Jesus one time that he had rebuked people who were casting out demons because they weren’t part of the group.  This is even crazier when you know that John has sometimes been nicknamed, “the apostle of love.”  He wrote more than any other about the importance of love.  His love did not quiet his passion for truth, though.  He continued to deal with truth in absolutes and opposites (light vs dark, of God vs of the world, etc).  Someone of John’s personality would have the tendency to push things to extremes.  This is how he learned balance:

  • The balance of Truth and Love.  John was commited to truth early – he followed John the Baptist but left as soon as he pointed to Jesus as the true Christ.  He also mentions truth more than anyone besides Jesus himself.  But, sometimes this zeal clouded his compassion for others.  This is evident in the case where he was rebuking those who were casting out demons.  In the scene with the Samaritans James and John showed no compassion for unbelievers, and now he was showing the same lack of compassion for those who believed but did not follow with them.  MacArthur states that he thinks John confesses this to Jesus because he was convicted.  This scene follows right after he was rebuked for arguing over who would be the greatest.  John learned that truth without love is brutal, but love without truth is hyposcrisy.  They need to be balanced.
  • The balance of Ambition and Humility.  It’s not wrong to aspire to have success, but it is when you have selfish motives, or if you are ambitious without being humble.  An example of John being abitious without humility is when their mother asked if they could sit at the right and left hand of Jesus.  They were more concerned about obtaining that position than they were of being worthy of that position.  Jesus had told them countless times that they needed to be humble.  John does learn to be humble, though.  For example, he never mentions his own name in his writings, instead using “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”  MacArthur suggests this is John being in awe that Jesus loved him.
  • The balance of Suffering and Glory.  John wanted glory, but avoided suffering.  It makes sense from an earthly standpoint, but if we want heavenly glory we need to endure earthly suffering.  All of the disciples fled when Jesus was betrayed, and all of them died for the faith, except John.  John lived to an old age, but that just means he had to endure earthly suffering even longer and without his friends.  John had learned to endure this suffering without complaining, though.  He never complains in any of his books, but instead was looking forward to the Kingdom.

From John we learn that are character traits are wonderful gifts that should be used - but many times they need to be balanced by Jesus.

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My Friend Theresa

July 28, 2008 at 1:03 pm (Uncategorized)

I went to a funeral on Saturday for a friend of mine who passed away at the age of 41 of cancer.  She was the most phenomenal person I have ever met.  Her passion for God and telling others about him touched the lives of everyone she met.  She was truly outstanding.

Her dad said that in the couple of years she was diagnosed with cancer she never asked why.  How often do I ask God why he puts me through small things, and she never asked why He gave her cancer?  She understood that God was performing His will to make the greatest impact on His Kingdom.  She may not have seen or understood the big picture, but she didn’t need to.  I think that’s why she impacted everyone she met.  Her life was truly fully devoted to the cause of Christ, and people saw that she was different.  How can you not love a God that someone so passionately follows?

Attending the funeral I reflected on how much she impacted my life in particular.  Theresa was the international minister when I first started going to CMSU.  She enlisted my help, and I was hooked ever since.  She always told me that we could impact the nations without going anywhere at all by ministering to these students.  That impacted the rest of my life.  From there I became more involved in the BSU, which led me to be on staff there, which led me to where I am right now – in Independence helping plant a church.  Reflecting also helped me realize I am not as passionate about God as I was then.  That makes me sad, but ultimately it inspires me to do better.  So, even in her death God is using Theresa to touch me.

I am not the only one.  First Baptist of Warrensburg was packed the day of her funeral, and it lasted 1 1/2 hours because so many people had so much to say about her impact.  They said that there were several doctors and nurses in Germany (where she was when the cancer hit) who realized there was something different about her and her family.  They will never be the same.  There was a group of 9 individuals she was training to do missions, and the day after they left is the day she passed.  They will also never be the same… as letters that someone read at the funeral expressed.  There are countless others.

To quote someone who spoke at the funeral, “If I could live my life like Theresa, it would be an honor.”

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Mother Earth Coffee

July 24, 2008 at 11:19 am (Uncategorized)

I went grocery shopping this morning and discovered a company that sells Organic Fair Trade coffee.  I was very excited, especially since it is priced the same as the coffee I usually buy.

The coffee is from El Salvador, and the company was founded solely to help the poverty-striken coffee farmers in that country.  They claim that the coffee is shade grown under banana trees, and that they know the producers by name because they visit them.  On top of all that, the coffee is locally roasted.  The other thing that struck me about this company is that it was founded by a woman! :)  

If you want to know more about this coffee you should visit http://www.motherearthcoffeeco.com/.  You can order some there, too, and apparently you can order your beans green if you like to roast them yourself.  If you want to buy some from a store you should visit your local HyVee (if you live in the KC area).

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Ch. 4: James

July 24, 2008 at 11:11 am (Teaching)

James is the least familiar disciple to us.  The Bible just doesn’t say much about his life and character.  We do know that he was the oldest of the two brothers (James and John) and his family must have been prominent because the 2 brothers were always referred to in reference to their father.  They were known as the “Sons of Thunder.”  James was far from passive and subtle.  He was outspoken and impatient with evil.  He had a lot of zeal, but sometimes that zeal got out of control:

  • Luke 9:51-56: James wants to destroy the Samaritans with fire from heaven.  They were all headed to Jerusalem for Passover and Jesus chose to Samaria.  This was significant because most Jews deliberately went around Samaria to get to Jerusalem.  The Samaritans were considered unclean and very pagan.  Since their group was large Jesus sent messengers to arrange accomodations, but they were always refused.  That’s when James (and John) asked if Jesus wanted them to command fire from heaven to consume them, as Elijah had done in that same area when King Ahaziah was being foolish and stubborn.  They probably thought it was ok because Elijah had done it, but their motives were wrong.  They were arrogant, and they had forgotten that Jesus came to SAVE people not destroy them.  It was good that they wanted to defend Jesus’ honor, but they just went about it the wrong way.
  • Matthew 20:20-24: James and John ask their mother to ask if they can sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in heaven.  This act created conflict among the apostles, which carried all the way to the Last Supper when they were still arguing over who would be the greatest.

Jesus promised James he would suffer the same fate as him when he asked to be the greatest, and he did.  James was the first disciple to be martyred.  He is actually the only apostle whse death is recorded in the Bible.  MacArthur suggests this means James was still very zealous after Jesus had risen – otherwise Herod Antipas would not have wanted him dead so badly.  James was still courageous, zealous, and committed to the truth, but he had apparently learned how to use those skills for God instead of for himself.

We learn from James that it is good to be zealous, but we need to harness that zeal with love, grace, and mercy.  We do that the way we do everything else – by submitting ourselves the the leadership and control of the Holy Spirit.

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Ch. 3: Andrew

July 18, 2008 at 4:47 pm (Books)

Andrew is the least-known of the disciples in Jesus’ core group (Peter, Andrew, James, and John).  He was, however, the first of the disciples called, and he’s the one who introduced Peter.  In fact, he is mostly known for bringing others to Christ.  He did not seek to be the center of attention, and whenever he spoke (which was not often) he always said the right thing.  When acting apart from the other disciples he also always did the right thing.  Andrew was an effective leader even though he was never in the spotlight.  MacArthur suggests he may even be a better model of a leader, since most leaders will not be renowned like Peter.  His willingness to stand back from the spotlight gave him insight into things the other disciples struggled with.

  • There is value in individual people.  Andrew brought individuals, not crowds, to Jesus.  Peter was one example of someone he brought.  Another example is when Jesus fed the 5000.  It was Andrew who brought the boy with the loaves and fish.  when some Gentiles approached Philip wanting to see Jesus, Philip brought them to Andrew who then brought them to Jesus.  Andrew knew that Jesus would want to see anyone who wanted to see Him.  Most people come to Jesus this way – from an individual who influenced them.  Even all of the multitudes that came to Jesus because of Peter’s speeches after Pentecost would not have if it wasn’t for Andrew.  That is why Andrew’s ministry was extremely important.
  • There is value in insignificant gifts.  The feeding of the 5000 is an example of this as well.  Jesus commanded the disciples to feed this group, and Andrew knew he would not ask them to do something if it was impossible for them to obey.  So, he found what food source he could and brought it to Jesus.  Another example is the poor widow who put in everything she had and Jesus says she gave more than the rich who give in their abundance.  MacArthur writes, “God’s ability to use a gift is in no way hindered or enhanced by the size of that gift.  And it is the sacrificial faitfulness of the giver, not the size of the gift, that is the true measure of the gift’s significance.”  This is how God works – he takes our insignificant, sacrificial gifts and uses them to accomplish huge things.
  • There is value in inconspicuous service.  Andrew was more concerned about bringing people to Jesus than who would get the credit for it.  He didn’t mind being behind the scenes as long as the work was being accomplished.

The Bible doesn’t say what happened to Andrew.  Historians write that he went as far as Scythia.  One historian says he led a Roman governor’s wife to Christ, and when she refused to recant her husband was enraged enough that he ordered Andrew to be crucified.  He was lashed to the cross instead of nailed so his suffering would be prolonged, and they write that he hung there for 2 days asking those who passed to come to Christ.

I can identify a little more with Andrew.  I feel that I stand in the background like he did, and I’m content there most of the time.  I do struggle with feeling like what I’m doing is noticeable, or even valuable, instead of being concerned about the individuals I could lead to Jesus.  Oh, that I could be more like him – as MacArthur writes, “laboring faithfully but inconspicuously, giving insignificant, sacrificial gifts.”  I should not seek wordly recognition, only hearing my God tell me I’ve done well.

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Ch. 2: Peter

July 17, 2008 at 2:54 pm (Books)

Simon was a fisherman who Jesus renamed as Peter, which means “Rock.”  From then on Jesus used each name to refer to Peter depending on what he had done.  One way “Simon” was used instead of “Peter” was when people were refering to his things: work, home, family, etc.  The other way was when he was acting sinfully.  Therefore, Peter usually knew by the name Jesus called him if he had done something good or something bad.  Peter was like most Christians – strong in the Spirit at times, but also sometimes going back to his fleshly habits.  He was also the leader of the disciples.  Therefore, when we look at him we see how God builds a leader:

  • Raw material.  Peter was inquisitive.  He asked lots of questions; actually more than all the other disciples combined.  A leader is someone who asks the right questions and is looking for the answers.  Peter had initiative.  He was full of drive, ambition, and energy.  A leader makes things happen.  Peter was involved.  He was always in the middle of the action.  A leader shows the way and goes before everyone into the battle.
  • Life experiences.  Peter learned a lot through experience.  He learned that defeat and humiliation often follow right after our greatest victories.  When he claimed Jesus as Lord he learned that God would reveal truth to him and guide his speech.  Immediately after, when he told Jesus he wouldn’t die, he learned that he was vulnerable to Satan.  Later he also learned that he was weak and could not trust his own strength when he denied Jesus 3 times.  Despite all this he learned that God still wanted to use him and would sustain him no matter what.
  • Character qualities.  Leaders cannot truly lead without character because those who follow will not trust them.  These qualities have to be developed.  The first one is submission.  Leaders should not just demand submission; they should also be examples by the way they submit to God and those in authority over them.  Jesus shows us this when he pays the temple tax.  He did not have to pay the tax because he’s God, but instead of explaining that to people who wouldn’t understand he chooses to submit to this authority.  By this act he even shows us that leaders should submit even when they have good reasons not to.  The second quality is restrain.  Most natural leaders, because of their personality, grow impatient with people who lack vision or underperform.  Therefore, they much learn restrain.  Peter was constantly learning this lesson… he always had his foot in his mouth.  The third quality is humility.  It’s easy to be prideful when people are following you, looking up to you, and praising you.  Peter learned this when he boldly states he would follow Jesus to death and then denies him 3 times when the opportunity arose.  The fourth quality is love.  A real leader is someone who serves.  Jesus shows us then when he washes the disciples’ feet.  Fifthly is compassion.  MacArthur says “people with natural leadership abilities often tend to be short on compassion, lousy comforters, and impatient with others.”  Peter learned compassion through his own circumstances so that he could strenthen and comfort others in theirs.  The last quality is courage.  Peter seemed to have courage when he cut of the ear of the soldier, but that was a wavering courage.  He needed a courage that would help him suffer, and ultimately die, for his faith.

Peter was far from perfect after all of this development.  Apparently he had to be publicly rebuked by Paul for listening to some false teachers and refusing to eat with his Gentile brothers anymore.  He did respond to this correction, though, and even spoke up in defense of them later.  Ultimately, Peter was crucified, but he pleaded to be head-downward because he didn’t deserve to die like Jesus.

I don’t really feel like I’m a leader (in the raw material area at the very least), so I can’t relate to Peter very well, but I did draw some things from this chapter.  My life experiences will teach me how to become a better follower of Jesus.  He can, and does, use them to mold me.  No matter what I do He will still want to use me.  I think the character qualities mentioned above should be in EVERY Christ-follower, not just the leaders.  So, I should be practicing submission, restrain, humility, love, compassion, and courage.  Some of those are easier for me than others, but each are equally important.

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Twelve Ordinary Men – Ch. 1

July 15, 2008 at 4:55 pm (Books)

I started reading Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur yesterday, so I plan on posting what I’ve learned and how I’m internalizing it as I go.

The first part of this chapter that fascinated me was the phases of the calling of the apostles.  The first phase was conversion.  Apparently some of the 12 were already disciples of John the Baptitst, but when they heard him claim Jesus as the “Lamb of God” they readily followed him.  At this point they submitted to Jesus as their teacher, but they remained in their regular jobs.  The second phase was ministry.  This is the point where they dropped everything to follow Him.  The third phase was apostleship.  At this point they became like Jesus’ interns.  He would send them out, but they would always come back to report what they had experienced, learn some more, fellowship, and rest.  Their final phase was martyrdom.  All of them ended up giving their lives for the gospel.

MacArthur makes it very clear in this chapter that it was not the disciples themselves that were special, but their calling.  The rest of this chapter talks about the apostleship phase of their calling. 

  • The timing of their calling was urgent.  Opposition to Jesus had peaked when the apostles were called.  He had just openly exposed the sins of the religious authorities by overturning everything in the temple during the Passover.  The leaders wanted him dead.
  • The twelve themselves were Galileans, low-class citizens.  They were not “qualified” to be leaders (but frankly, neither are any of us).  God chose them because there is no doubt that it was HIM and not the twelve who worked to turn the world upside down.
  • The teacher, Jesus, was facing impending death.  He knew he didn’t have much time left and needed to leave people behind to take his place.  What did he do?  He prayed… all night long… exactly what God would pray.  MacArthur writes, “Jesus in His humanity needed to pray all night, and Jesus in His deity was praying the very prayer of God.” 
  • The task was great.  The word apostle come from the Greek apostolos, meaning ambassador, delegate, official representative.  The word in Aramaic is shaliah, who were known to exercise the full rights of the Sanhedrin.  They spoke with Sanhedrin authority and was owed the same respect, but they never delivered their own message.  People would have known exactly the responsibility of the disciples when they were called to this role. 
  • The training was extensive.  They were with Jesus all the time – subject to his teaching, how he dealt with others, and able to ask him questions.  When they were slow to understand, Jesus just kept on taeching them.  When they lacked humility he humbled himself as a servant and washed their feet (and ultimately died on a cross).  When they lacked faith he kept on doing miracles.  When they lacked commitment He interceded for them in prayer. And when they lacked power He left them the Holy Spirit.

Even today, the Twelve are still changing the world.  I had never really thought about how ordinary the Twelve were.  I mean, I knew they were, but I never really thought about it.  It makes sense that God would choose them because that’s the only way He would get the glory.  What I get so far is that I was chosen because I’m ordinary, but that also means that He wants to use me to change the world as He used, and is still using, the Twelve.

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Summer Plans – Repost

July 12, 2008 at 4:27 pm (Teaching)

Teachers get the summers off right?  Wrong!  Here are my plans for the summer:

1. Teaching summer school.  I have 2 sessions of Algebra 1.  One is first semester material and the other is second.  I teach the first session 7:30 – 10:00 and the second session 10:00 – 12:30.  What’s nice about summer school is that I am done earlier, the pay is good, and I only have 2 preps.  The downfall I’ve seen so far is it’s hard to keep the kids engaged in math for 2 1/2 hours, and it’s hard on me to teach 2-3 lessons a day per sessions (so really 4-6) with no breaks.

2. Taking a class at UMKC.  This class (matrix theory) starts next week, so I don’t know how it’s going to go yet.  I have taken something similar to this class at UCM, so I’m hoping it will be easier.  I really like learning more about math (I’m a nerd, I know), so I am excited about continuing my master’s degree.

3. Curriculum writing.  The last full week of June and the few days right after the 4th of July the math department will be writing curriculum to make sure we’re done before school starts.

4. Helping out with LifeConnection (of course).  We have a lot planned this summer – block parties, house parties, service projects, KidsCo in the park, …  If you will be around and want to check it out, visit www.lifeconnectionkc.org for more information!

What about you?  What are your plans for the summer?

I have to say, I’m glad a lot of these things are over.  I am still taking my class, but the curriculum writing and teaching summer school is over.  I am glad I did both things, but it’s nice to relax.  Finally, I get to enjoy one of the perks of being a teacher! :)

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Why I Hate Medicare/Medicaid – Repost

July 12, 2008 at 4:25 pm (Uncategorized)

A couple of years ago my grandma needed knee replacement surgery.  For some reason this surgery did not heal properly, and she has had a couple of infections settle in her knee.  As a result of the slow healing my grandma has fallen twice and broken her wrist and her hip.  Her wrist is healed now, but she had to have hip replacement surgery in January.  While she was in the hospital healing from that surgery she fell again, and is now in a senior care facility (nursing home) for rehab.

Here’s the part where Medicare comes in.  They have decided that my grandma is not healing as fast as she should, so they are going to stop providing care.  Since she cannot get along on her own yet and both of my parents work, the nursing home cannot release her to go home without either reporting her as a health hazard to herself or forcing her to hire someone to live and take care of her (or one of my parents has to quit their job).  Instead, my grandma has to pay $165 a DAY to stay where she is.  That’s $60,225 a year.  We found cheaper places, but as we all know lower cost comes with lower quality, and that is just not acceptable.

So far, that’s not too bad.  Here’s the real kicker… Medicare will not kick back in until my grandma has $999 TOTAL.  That means she has to spend all of her money, retirement, life insurance, CD’s, 401K, etc. down to $999 before they will cover her again.  Not only that, but she will have to sell her house and car.  Pretty much she will have to have nothing before they will help.

All of this wouldn’t be so bad if my grandma looked like she had hope of progressing.  It’s been 2 months and she can’t even get from her wheelchair to her bed on her own.  Oh, and I forgot to tell you that my grandma is only 68 years old and otherwise has no health issues.  So if it does take my grandma a few years to get better, but she does get better, she’ll get out of the home to go home to nothing – no house, no car, no money.

I thought Medicare was supposed to help!

My grandma is still in the assisted living place.  She goes in and out of wanting to improve, but in the meantime her money is being eaten up until Medicare kicks back in.  I really just want her to want to get better… so, if you think about it, please pray for her.

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