Remember when Jesus asked the disciples to cast their nets again after they had caught nothing all evening. When they did they caught so many fish their nets were ready to break. The final count was 153 fish. To me that seemed like such an odd number, I mean why tell us 153 fish?
Today I read about the meaning of those 153 fish- at least one person's opinion anyway. Seems that in Exodus God commanded that the Torah be read in its totality every seven years. The Jews broke the Torah up into 153 readings called 'sedarim' to complete the reading every three years. The article went on to say Jesus is the fulfillment of the Torah- which still didn't clearly define for me the purpose of 153 fish.
Another author pointed out for our math majors that "St. Augustine rightly observed its significance. 153 is the triangular of 17. That means that if you add all the numbers decreasing from 17, you get 153. That is to say, 17 + 16 + 15 + 14 +13 + 12 + 10 + ... + 1 = 153." And that 17 is an important number in the Bible- 12 baskets of bread plus 5 loaves equals 17, Joseph was taken to Egypt at age 17, and there were 17 nations at Pentecost (where 17 represents all nations just like the number 70- interesting 10 + 7 equals 17 and 10 x 7 equals 70). So maybe the fish represented all nations. Lastly 153 is the sum of its cubes: 1 x 1 x 1 plus 5 x 5 x 5 plus 3 x 3 x 3. Was God having fun with math?
So maybe the fishy number meant the disciples would catch men with the Gospel in all nations- or maybe not, maybe there is no meaning to the number. I certainly would have been one of the disciples asking questions after this event or after parables to learn what Jesus was trying to say. If I were one of the disciples He would have had to speak in even simpler terms. Jesus would have told me straight up- 153 fish represents all the nations where my followers will be fishers of men. I can guess we'd end our list of disciples with 'Keith- the slow one'. Maybe the Holy Spirit would have inspired me to write a very simple book with no hidden meanings. My gospel would have had more pictures than parables and clearly pointed out why there were 153 fish.
I heard a pastor tell a story about a member who wrote him a very nasty letter. And she concluded the letter by telling him he was nothing but a donkey, a big donkey. And he said this term just stuck in his head and gnawed at him for some reason. Soon after he went to lunch with a fellow pastor who told him God was using his ministry in a powerful way. And just before they parted ways and without knowing about the donkey letter, the other pastor said, you know what they say about the donkey don't you? Even the donkey knew the palm branches and cloaks on the road weren't for him but for the man on his back - stay humble.
That's exactly the kind of straight talk from God I need. I'm still not sure of all God is trying to tell me from my latest cancer adventure. I do have a greater appreciation for each new day I'm given. I have an even greater appreciation for my wife and family and friends. Most of all I appreciate God's great gifts of hope and faith even more. If these were His points for me well then I got them.
The Bible makes plenty of plain and simple important points to be sure, the most famous being John 3:16 maybe. Some like to dig for deeper insights and meanings which I am sure exist as a reward for those who will take the time to study God's Word. It's exciting when even I uncover one of these jewels. Let me encourage you this week to spend some time in God's Word- I think if you do the math, you'll clearly see we are blessed with an awesome Savior who loves us beyond simple words!
Blest Regards,
kp
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shrove Tuesday
So did you eat any pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Evidently, this was an Anglican and Lutheran tradition at some point- to eat pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday to help use up rich foods like eggs and milk and sugar. Much like the better known name, Fat Tuesday, the idea is to prepare for the season of Lent where one would fast and do without meat, dairy products and rich foods.
We don't think about denial or fasting much anymore. Many don't think much about Lent either come to think of it. It seems as time goes on our religious rituals have given way to more important things like TV and sports and whatever hobby fits us best. What would life be like for us if we returned to a faith with a greater focus on Lent?
It wouldn't be all bad- the Lenten season starts with Collup Monday- eating bacon on a fried egg (the last day to eat meat) and then moving on to eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. We would prepare to focus on the coming Lenten season.
We would then move to Ash Wednesday, a day focused on repentance. As a way of expressing our sorrow for our sins we would have our foreheads marked with ashes in the sign of the cross. The next 40 days we would pray and fast, practice self denial of something we enjoy all to express our desire to repent and indicate how sorry we are for our sins.
During this time we would engage in an additional Bible study or time of devotions, certainly attend every Lenten service and maybe even volunteer for a charity. Jesus' redeeming work on the cross would be our focus more than ever. Instead of a 'me' focus we would have a 'He' focus- considering also what God would have us do with our lives.
By the time Holy Week arrived we would be ready to consider the price paid for our sins. To think about the betrayal of Judas (and each of us) on Spy Wednesday. Maundy or Holy Thursday would be a time for us to remember the gift of the Lord's Supper and then Good Friday would bring us to our knees as we ponder how evil our own sins are and how far they separate us from God. We would be heartbroken as we consider the cross and Jesus' death.
All this would make way for the brightest Easter morning of our lives as we celebrate God's gifts of forgiveness and grace and hope and eternal life. What joy would we share with each other on Sunday morning! Nothing is stopping us from becoming an old fashioned Christian, from having pancakes on Tuesday and greater joy on Easter morning. May God grant each of us a Spirit-filled, faith-building Lenten season.
Blest Regards,
kp
We don't think about denial or fasting much anymore. Many don't think much about Lent either come to think of it. It seems as time goes on our religious rituals have given way to more important things like TV and sports and whatever hobby fits us best. What would life be like for us if we returned to a faith with a greater focus on Lent?
It wouldn't be all bad- the Lenten season starts with Collup Monday- eating bacon on a fried egg (the last day to eat meat) and then moving on to eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. We would prepare to focus on the coming Lenten season.
We would then move to Ash Wednesday, a day focused on repentance. As a way of expressing our sorrow for our sins we would have our foreheads marked with ashes in the sign of the cross. The next 40 days we would pray and fast, practice self denial of something we enjoy all to express our desire to repent and indicate how sorry we are for our sins.
During this time we would engage in an additional Bible study or time of devotions, certainly attend every Lenten service and maybe even volunteer for a charity. Jesus' redeeming work on the cross would be our focus more than ever. Instead of a 'me' focus we would have a 'He' focus- considering also what God would have us do with our lives.
By the time Holy Week arrived we would be ready to consider the price paid for our sins. To think about the betrayal of Judas (and each of us) on Spy Wednesday. Maundy or Holy Thursday would be a time for us to remember the gift of the Lord's Supper and then Good Friday would bring us to our knees as we ponder how evil our own sins are and how far they separate us from God. We would be heartbroken as we consider the cross and Jesus' death.
All this would make way for the brightest Easter morning of our lives as we celebrate God's gifts of forgiveness and grace and hope and eternal life. What joy would we share with each other on Sunday morning! Nothing is stopping us from becoming an old fashioned Christian, from having pancakes on Tuesday and greater joy on Easter morning. May God grant each of us a Spirit-filled, faith-building Lenten season.
Blest Regards,
kp
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Flowers and Fruits
I came across an interesting poem this week cited in Leonard Sweet's book '11'. "I Will Not Die and Unlived Life" is a title that catches your attention. The last lines struck me as a powerful reminder of how we are to live:
'I choose... to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.' (Dawna Markova)
I knew a good man years ago who left the Catholic church for a non-demominational church for numerous reasons. And he kept asking his good Catholic friend and my boss why he wouldn't leave the church as well. My boss replied that he was called to bloom where he was planted, that he wanted to stay and encourage his fellow Catholics. I liked that answer, that steadfast heart to bloom, to encourage and serve others right where God planted him.
And I like the poem's idea of seed, to blossom, to fruit. I'm not sure if the author had a Biblical intent but we know the Bible speaks to this exact point. Remember the parable of the Sower, where the seed, the Word of God is sown and the good soil, the man who takes it to heart, bears tons of fruit? That should be us. Non-fruit bearers end up like the bare fig tree, cursed, withered up and good only as firewood.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We are a field that needs to be planted with the Word, a field of good soil that takes in the Word which causes us to grow and blossom and be a blessing to others. As Peter puts it, to be such a blessing that others ask us about the hope that is in us! That's how you know when you are blossoming, when others ask you about your blooms.
Maybe the poem invites us to wonder if we are living an 'unlived life'. What are we not doing that we should be doing? Jesus gives us two simple commands which will result it blooming and fruit. We are to love God and love our neighbor. Blooms and fruit are born in these activities. God knows the colorful and fruitful plans He has for us (Jer 29)- are we living these plans or living an unlived life?
To die an unlived life for me is to spend no time with the Word- in church or at home. Without the Word, without Jesus, we bear no blossoms and certainly no fruit. Matthew West sings about his desire to live a fruitful life in his song 'The Motions':
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
Let's hear the Word, let it take root in us and by the power of the Holy Spirit blossom and bear fruit. Let me encourage you today to live a full life by getting into God's Word. Go to church this week, find a Bible study, and dust off your Bible and catechism at home, crack them open and hear what God has to say to you. It's okay to be a late bloomer, even better to be a bit fruity. Plant the seeds this week to live a full life with eternal rewards. See you all at the flower and fruit show this Sunday!
Blest Regards,
Keith
'I choose... to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.' (Dawna Markova)
I knew a good man years ago who left the Catholic church for a non-demominational church for numerous reasons. And he kept asking his good Catholic friend and my boss why he wouldn't leave the church as well. My boss replied that he was called to bloom where he was planted, that he wanted to stay and encourage his fellow Catholics. I liked that answer, that steadfast heart to bloom, to encourage and serve others right where God planted him.
And I like the poem's idea of seed, to blossom, to fruit. I'm not sure if the author had a Biblical intent but we know the Bible speaks to this exact point. Remember the parable of the Sower, where the seed, the Word of God is sown and the good soil, the man who takes it to heart, bears tons of fruit? That should be us. Non-fruit bearers end up like the bare fig tree, cursed, withered up and good only as firewood.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We are a field that needs to be planted with the Word, a field of good soil that takes in the Word which causes us to grow and blossom and be a blessing to others. As Peter puts it, to be such a blessing that others ask us about the hope that is in us! That's how you know when you are blossoming, when others ask you about your blooms.
Maybe the poem invites us to wonder if we are living an 'unlived life'. What are we not doing that we should be doing? Jesus gives us two simple commands which will result it blooming and fruit. We are to love God and love our neighbor. Blooms and fruit are born in these activities. God knows the colorful and fruitful plans He has for us (Jer 29)- are we living these plans or living an unlived life?
To die an unlived life for me is to spend no time with the Word- in church or at home. Without the Word, without Jesus, we bear no blossoms and certainly no fruit. Matthew West sings about his desire to live a fruitful life in his song 'The Motions':
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
Let's hear the Word, let it take root in us and by the power of the Holy Spirit blossom and bear fruit. Let me encourage you today to live a full life by getting into God's Word. Go to church this week, find a Bible study, and dust off your Bible and catechism at home, crack them open and hear what God has to say to you. It's okay to be a late bloomer, even better to be a bit fruity. Plant the seeds this week to live a full life with eternal rewards. See you all at the flower and fruit show this Sunday!
Blest Regards,
Keith
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Heavenly Sets
Sherri and I went to see 'Avatar' last week. We sprung for the extra $3 and saw it in 3D. We thought it was a good movie, not great and a bit long. What makes this movie such a big hit isn't its average storyline, but rather the visually stunning world the story takes place in.
What moviemakers can do with special effects these days is amazing. On the Avatar planet Pandora we saw mountains float in mid-air along with all sorts of interesting creatures. It was as if James Cameron became the 'creator' and came up with a whole new cast of plants and animals and people. He stole a bunch of God's ideas- like eyes and hands and feet etc, but he creatively rearranged them into some pretty unique and fantastic creations.
And as good as they were and as much as they held my attention, I couldn't help but think that the imagination of this filmmaker is a gift on loan from God. And whatever his mind gifts him to imagine and create on film is but the smallest of glimpses of things God can imagine and create.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you think 'Avatar' is visually stunning wait till you see the reality of heaven. God gives us this same message in Corinthians where Paul writes, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." Heaven will make 'Avatar' look like a bad amateur YouTube video.
The little known last verse of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' describes what our anticipation to see the glory heaven should be:
Oh When the new world is revealed
Oh When the new world is revealed
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the new world is revealed
I want to be in that number too! We can't begin to imagine how awesome the heavenly set will be. Revelation gives us a few of the details, but I get the feeling the author knew words could not adequately describe what he saw. When we try to descibe a sunset or the smell of a Spring rain, words can fail- how much greater do they come up short in trying to relate what heaven is like?
Jesus adds to the anticipation we should feel about heaven when He says, 'Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.' Even God Himself believes the reward of heaven is going to be something very special- something so good our reaction should be to rejoice! I pray we all get to see the glory of heaven one day- He's already paid the price of admission and this is one eternal show we don't want to miss.
Blest Regards,
Keith
What moviemakers can do with special effects these days is amazing. On the Avatar planet Pandora we saw mountains float in mid-air along with all sorts of interesting creatures. It was as if James Cameron became the 'creator' and came up with a whole new cast of plants and animals and people. He stole a bunch of God's ideas- like eyes and hands and feet etc, but he creatively rearranged them into some pretty unique and fantastic creations.
And as good as they were and as much as they held my attention, I couldn't help but think that the imagination of this filmmaker is a gift on loan from God. And whatever his mind gifts him to imagine and create on film is but the smallest of glimpses of things God can imagine and create.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you think 'Avatar' is visually stunning wait till you see the reality of heaven. God gives us this same message in Corinthians where Paul writes, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." Heaven will make 'Avatar' look like a bad amateur YouTube video.
The little known last verse of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' describes what our anticipation to see the glory heaven should be:
Oh When the new world is revealed
Oh When the new world is revealed
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the new world is revealed
I want to be in that number too! We can't begin to imagine how awesome the heavenly set will be. Revelation gives us a few of the details, but I get the feeling the author knew words could not adequately describe what he saw. When we try to descibe a sunset or the smell of a Spring rain, words can fail- how much greater do they come up short in trying to relate what heaven is like?
Jesus adds to the anticipation we should feel about heaven when He says, 'Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.' Even God Himself believes the reward of heaven is going to be something very special- something so good our reaction should be to rejoice! I pray we all get to see the glory of heaven one day- He's already paid the price of admission and this is one eternal show we don't want to miss.
Blest Regards,
Keith
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Disappointed?
Sherri and I went to have lunch with Caleb today at St. Bernards. We had milk and fruit and hamburger and fries. A brownie wrapped up what I thought was a pretty good school lunch. Our table had all five of the 8th grade boys and we had a good conversation.
At one point I asked Caleb what class was next. He replied, 'literature' and that they were reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Sherri said that was a good book. I said I had never read it. To which classmate Jeremy replied, 'Neither have I'. We all shared a good laugh on that comment.
We all have times when we don't do the things we are supposed to. This week I went to physical therapy for the first time to work on increasing my arm movements after having a shoulder muscle removed during my cancer surgery. Anyway I felt okay going in but after being poked and prodded and stretched my shoulder was a little sore. I came home with exercises to do but so far I have yet to get started on the new routines I'm supposed to do. Don't tell anyone, especially my wife.
When folks don't do what they are supposed to it can be disappointing. Jesus dealt with this problem on numerous occasions. One such instance is recorded for us where Jesus asks a couple of his disciples to stay awake with Him while He prays. Of course we know that doesn't happen. Even so Jesus continued on with His mission.
I bet this happened over and over through the three years of Jesus' ministry. And yet, just like in the garden, Jesus never stopped moving forward in His work. When Jesus learns of a disappointing debate over who gets to sit next to Him in heaven, He doesn't give up on them, rather He gives them a lesson in humility.
That's not as easy for us to do is it? When others disappoint us often our first reaction is to take it personally, maybe even look for a pound of flesh or some way to proclaim our hurt and disappointment. If it is church related, well then the most common response is to quit whatever program, position or project we are working on. That'll teach 'em! But that's not the example Jesus gave us is it?
Jesus taught us to love one another and to freely forgive. His example of forgiving Peter and then using him to 'feed my sheep' is the perfect 'disappointment' response. May God grant us an extra measure of grace this week to live the same response as we work together in His kingdom. And may God grant Jeremy Mockingbird Cliff Notes for his literature class.
Blest Regards,
Keith
At one point I asked Caleb what class was next. He replied, 'literature' and that they were reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Sherri said that was a good book. I said I had never read it. To which classmate Jeremy replied, 'Neither have I'. We all shared a good laugh on that comment.
We all have times when we don't do the things we are supposed to. This week I went to physical therapy for the first time to work on increasing my arm movements after having a shoulder muscle removed during my cancer surgery. Anyway I felt okay going in but after being poked and prodded and stretched my shoulder was a little sore. I came home with exercises to do but so far I have yet to get started on the new routines I'm supposed to do. Don't tell anyone, especially my wife.
When folks don't do what they are supposed to it can be disappointing. Jesus dealt with this problem on numerous occasions. One such instance is recorded for us where Jesus asks a couple of his disciples to stay awake with Him while He prays. Of course we know that doesn't happen. Even so Jesus continued on with His mission.
I bet this happened over and over through the three years of Jesus' ministry. And yet, just like in the garden, Jesus never stopped moving forward in His work. When Jesus learns of a disappointing debate over who gets to sit next to Him in heaven, He doesn't give up on them, rather He gives them a lesson in humility.
That's not as easy for us to do is it? When others disappoint us often our first reaction is to take it personally, maybe even look for a pound of flesh or some way to proclaim our hurt and disappointment. If it is church related, well then the most common response is to quit whatever program, position or project we are working on. That'll teach 'em! But that's not the example Jesus gave us is it?
Jesus taught us to love one another and to freely forgive. His example of forgiving Peter and then using him to 'feed my sheep' is the perfect 'disappointment' response. May God grant us an extra measure of grace this week to live the same response as we work together in His kingdom. And may God grant Jeremy Mockingbird Cliff Notes for his literature class.
Blest Regards,
Keith
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