Paul the Poet

Hello! Glad you stopped by to check out what's going on with the "Year of the Bible" blog. I didn't post Sunday's sermon because it wasn't really a sermon. It was more of an interactive reading through Acts 2 as part of our Pentecost celebration. Hope you enjoy the slideshow of pictures on the sidebar on the right.

Here's the question and answer from Sunday:
What was the messenger supposed to do after he anointed Jehu as king? (2 Kings 9)
2 Kings 9:2-3 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; don't delay!"

And here's the question and answer for Monday:
What was put into baskets and sent to Jehu in Jezreel? (2 Kings 10)
2 Kings 10:7 7 When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
(Eww, I know.)

And here's the question for today:
There is one LOOOONG sentence in 2 Corinthians 6. How many verses long is it?

And here's the reflection of the day:
I am a little distracted by one of Paul's many run-on sentences, particularly the one in 2 Corinthians 6. According to www.dictionary.com, to "commend" is "to present or mention" or "to entrust."

Paul is continuing to work himself back into the good graces of the Corinthian Christians. He is working to prove to them that he, and his fellow teachers, are worthy of their trust. He lists all of the cirumstances they have gone through--"troubles, hardships and distresses; beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger" (vv 4-5).

Through all these situations, they have remained faithful to the calling God has put on their lives. "We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us." Paul continues to try to reconcile with the Corinthians, asking for their love and affection once again--something that is generally seen as weak and to be avoided. It's much preferable to be independent, right?

What humility it must have taken to write this letter! Apologizing is never easy, particularly when you know an apology does not guarantee reconciliation, as in Paul's case. I am a little afraid to spend too much time reflecting on this passage--it hits a little close to home when I consider those who I may owe an apology. . . or even a chance to ask for their love and affection once again. . . .

So, to avoid the log in my own eye as I point out the speck in yours, instead, I'll close with some of Paul's most beautiful lines--isn't he great when he gets a little poetic?!

". . . genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (vv 8-10)"

Have a splendid day!
Allison

Revenge

Hmm, this week sort of got away from me. That seems to be happening more and more these days. We're entering Month #5 of the Year of the Bible--can you believe it? I guess my initial enthusiasm is waning a bit.

I bet I'm not the only one either. Are you have trouble keeping up with your reading these days? Can you think of something the church could do to help pump people back up again? Let me know if you have a suggestion!!

In the meantime, I'll try to catch us up on the Qs&As. . . .

Here's the question and answer from Tuesday:
What did Saul do that grieved God and Samuel so much? (I Sam 15)What did Saul do that grieved God and Samuel so much? (I Sam 15)
1 Samuel 15:9 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs-- everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

And for Wednesday:
David wants to fight Goliath. When he tries to talk Saul into letting him fight, what are the reasons he thinks he can beat Goliath? (I Sam 17)
1 Samuel 17:36-37 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

And for Thursday:
Who says to Jesus, “Even if all fall away, I will not”? (Mark 14)
Mark 14:29-30 29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

And for Friday:
What day was it when Jesus was crucified? (Mark 15)
Mark 15:42 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).

And here's the question of the day:
What signs will accompany those who believe? (Mark 16)


And here's a little reflection for today. . .
This is a fascinating little exchange between David and Saul in I Samuel 24, don't you think? A little graphic for some, I suppose, but wouldn't this be a wonderfully suspenseful scene in a movie?! Saul, needing to relieve himself, enters the very cave where David and his men and lying in wait to kill him. But rather than killing him, David simply cuts a corner off Saul's robe. Saul walks away, unaware and unscathed, thanks to David's compassion.

Revenge is a difficult thing to resist, wouldn't you agree? And yet, what a reward Saul gives to David out of gratitude for sparing his life!

I wonder what would happen if we resisted taking revenge. I wonder how those we perceive as our enemies might respond if they see us refrain from doing something that might injure them or their reputations. Might we be surprised, as David was, to receive grace from a foe? Would that perhaps start us down the road of reconciliation? And who knows where that road will lead us!!

Phew--I finished this just in time. Let's go PENS!
Allison