Halloween         One-a-Day Thursday  10/31/24

Posted on by October 31, 2024
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A life worthy

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

This would be why I don’t go in for Halloween.

Look, I’m not saying that everything I think about is good, noble, true, etc. My thought life goes astray plenty on any given day. But to go out of my way to dwell on darkness and evil and death and all that is against God?

Nope

I know some folk think the whole thing is harmless. I mean, you can read Little Red Riding Hood–doesn’t mean you’re going to go off and cavort with wolves, right?

True enough, except that talking wolves are pretend.

Evil isn’t.

It’s too bad, because I like costumes, and I find candy to be an important part of life, and I have fond memories of trick or treating as an eight-year-old in my plastic Frankenstein mask. But now that I’m a certified grownup I see the shadow behind the silliness, and I just don’t think it’s what we’re supposed to be about.

You, of course, are free to disagree with me. I have never claimed to be anything more than a Michael. You can dispute me here in the comments

or 

better yet

you can come over and we’ll talk it out.

But bring candy.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Trophies One-a-Day Wednesday  10/30/24

Posted on by October 30, 2024
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A life worthy

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7).

So, when I read this carefully, it sounds like God is planning to use us to show how awesome and powerful his love is.

We’re his trophies.

I like this.

I used to have a few trophies, back in the day when they counted for something. Each one represented a success, a moment when I overcame the odds and the opposition to achieve victory. They brought memories of pain and toil and sweat and blisters and work and vision and anticipation and triumph and joy. I could tell you the story behind each race–whether you wanted to hear it or not.

One of these days we’ll all be at the wedding feast, doing wedding feast things, and God is going to call me up to the front and say, “Hey everybody. This is Michael. Let me tell you about this guy!” And the Lord of the Universe will share what a blithering, pathetic piece of fluff I was before his grace got hold of me and reeled me in. It won’t be at all embarrassing or shameful because we’ll be past all that nonsense, and everyone will laugh and weep and cheer and applaud God and his amazing, transforming, wonderful love.

I can’t wait.

So…if we’re trophies to show off God’s amazing goodness, aaand we are part of the Bride of Christ, does that make us trophy wives?

I gotta say, that feels a bit odd, but I’ll take it.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Still Grace One-a-Day Tuesday  10/29/24

Posted on by October 29, 2024
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A life worthy

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:5).

Again with the grace?

Yes, again with the grace.

Look, I don’t know about you, but when I take my eyes off grace–even for a moment–I start thinking that all this atoning-for-my-multiplicity-of-sins-growing-in-Christ-becoming-a-man-of-God-making-an-impact-on-the-world-becoming-the-awesomest-version-of-me-I-can-be stuff is actually, you know, on MY shoulders.

Which, of course, would crush me to powder in the blink of an eye.

Oh, by the way…when I said I don’t know about you?

I lied.

Embrace the grace, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Life and Death One-a-Day Monday  10/28/24

Posted on by October 28, 2024
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A life worthy

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… (Ephesians 2:5) 

I like zombie movies.

Go ahead and judge. You won’t be the first; you won’t be the last.

I think one of the fascinations behind these shows is the idea that a person can exist in two states, alive and dead at the same time.

It’s morbid and gruesome and scary and even funny on the screen, and yet…

That is who we were. We walked around in a macabre mockery of life, when in reality we were dead.

In the shows, the zombies are beyond hope; the only thing to do is release them from the pretense of life and kill them for good.

Of course, these shows don’t consider God. God solves the dilemma not by destroying life, but by defeating Death.

Imagine that movie–Jesus healing the zombies.

I’d pay to see that.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Mercy One-a-Day Friday  10/25/24

Posted on by October 25, 2024
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A life worthy

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy… (Ephesians 2:4)

So much mercy.

God is like Scrooge McDuck, with piles and piles of mercy, so much that you could dive into it, roll around in it, swim in it, practically drown in it

except that, you know…it’s the one thing keeping you afloat.

Of course, God doesn’t hoard his mercy. He spends it–rather lavishly, in fact.

On us

Happy Friday, Beloved

His Great Love One-a-Day Thursday  10/24/24

Posted on by October 24, 2024
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A life worthy

But because of his great love for us… (Ephesians 2:4)

Stop

Wait

Woah, Nellie

Hold on a minute.

I know you have a bucket full of issues to deal with this morning, and I’ll let you get to it in just a moment, but first…

Think of all the ways we can finish the above verse.

Because of his great love for us…

we are his.

Because of his great love for us…

we are whole.

Because of his great love for us…

we are safe.

Because of his great love for us…

we have shelter and food and clothing and love and life and peace even when peace makes no sense at all…

You can go on from there…and on…

And on

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Objects of Wrath One-a-Day Wednesday  10/23/24

Posted on by October 23, 2024
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A life worthy

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest,we were by nature objects of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).

Objects of wrath.

It’s just who we were.

Terrifying,

but 

true. 

Beloved, before you confessed with your mouth, before you believed in your heart, you were living life on your own merit.

Which means you were doomed.

That was then.

This is now.

Now, the Lord of Everything has endured that wrath for you.

Now, your many, many sins are forgiven.

Now, you stand clean before Almighty God.

Rejoice, Beloved, for you are not condemned.

Happy Wednesday

Spirit  One-a-Day Tuesday  10/22/24

Posted on by October 22, 2024
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A life worthy

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2) .

At the risk of being repetitive, redundant, and saying the same thing I’ve said before, allow me to point something out.

Those people out there, the ones without Christ, the ones who can make life so very difficult–they are not your enemy.

They are, in fact, being held captive by your Enemy.

They do not need your wrath.

They need rescue.

So, go out there today and be a rescue hero, ya?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

The Way it Used to Be One-a-Day Monday  10/21/24

Posted on by October 21, 2024
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A life worthy

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air… (Ephesians 2:2)

You used to live for yourself.

You used to do what you wanted, be who you wanted.

You used to sit on the throne of your own life.

I mean, that’s what you thought.

Paul reminds us that we were never really in charge. That “freedom” that we thought we had was a lie. We served the king of the air, just as surely as if we had been chained. Like inmates in an asylum, we strutted around as if we wore crowns instead of straight jackets.

Toward the end of her life, my grandmother lived in a nursing home. Her dementia caused her to think that she was living on a cruise ship, traveling to exotic places and feasting at the finest tables. We ran with that because…why not? There was no convincing her otherwise, and her fantasy beat her reality by a large margin. Still, it was sad to see someone we loved lost in a lie.

Beloved, you are going to meet people today who are trapped in the lie. They serve the king of the air, though they don’t realize it.

Do not mock.

Do not despise.

Have mercy, even as our Lord has mercy, and remember that you once wore those same chains.

And, but for grace, you would wear them still.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Dead One-a-Day Friday  10/18/24

Posted on by October 18, 2024
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A life worthy

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… (Ephesians 2:1)

The key word here is were.

You were dead, crushed lifeless by the weight of the sin you chose and the sin that was yours by birthright. You were dead, without life or light or hope or breath.

Your past is death.

Your present? Your future?

Life 

So much life

You have been taken from death and, at great cost, restored to life.

So live this day, Beloved.

Happy Friday