I'm a gardener, not a god. (Acts 14)

Reflections on the book of Acts

Read Acts 14 before proceeding.

Read Acts 14 online: Acts 14

~or~

Listen to Acts 14 online: Acts 14

My year as an intern was a Herculean feat. Besides going to graduate school full time, I built a database system, helped a broken family repair themselves and their income, taught various classes, all this while helping a churchplant get off the ground. It was common practice for me to get 3 hours of sleep 7 days in a row. It was also common practice for me to have an IV drip attached to a 20 ounce bag of coffee that fit snuggly into my backpack.

I had ordained myself the god of internships.

That’s when I realized that I didn’t want to be a god anymore. I wanted to be a gardener.

Shortly after my internship ended, my only inclination was to go to Home Depot, buy 6 packs of seeds and plant a garden. I wanted to put a bean in the ground, water it, and let it grow. Then eat it when it when it had ripened. I had been told all my life that gardening was not the life for an upwardly mobile American citizen. The work of a gardener was slow, methodical, and at times uninspiring. In the end, you only helped life grow instead of making a life of your own. More so, technology, education, religion and any other enlightenment propaganda told me that I was born to be a god.

V8-18

Paul and Barnabus went to Lystra to continue fulfilling their task of sowing the goodness of God throughout the world through word and deed. As Paul began speaking the gospel to the crowd, the crippled man’s expression must have spoken faith. Paul did as all good apostles do, he healed the man. And that is when things got complicated.

The crowds saw this miraculous work, and did what it seems to be in our nature to do, to make gods out of men. The physicist, J Robert Oppenheimer physicist looked at the first atomic explosion and said those mortal words, “we have become as gods.”

Paul went nearly out of his mind when he realized they tried to ordain Him a god. Something about men who suffer a cosmic identity crisis, and began christening one another as gods drove Paul mad. He ripped his clothes and launched into a speech about who was the true God.

But, the crowd was also dealing with their own baggage. See, according to the poet Ovid, the gods Zeus and Hermes had come disguised as mere mortal 50 years early to the town of Lystra. No one in the town knew the meaning of southern hospitality, (they were from the north after all) and told the hungry gods to go away. Finally, a peasant couple did invite them in, and hit the hospitality lottery. The gods (still disguised as men) blessed them and turned their home into a temple (which, I don’t know how cool it would be to turn my apartment into a sanctuary. House parties would be a bummer). But, the gods didn’t forget the town’s inhospitality toward them. Having treated Zeus and Hermes like Trekkie fans at a biker convention, they decided to flood the whole town. So, the town of Lystra made a promise to that if a anyone came to Lystra acting like a god, they would show them the respect they deserve.

That is exactly what Paul was fighting against when he ripped his clothes in verse 15-17. First, Paul explained to them that he could never be a god, but there is only one, true God. More so, this is not a god who has a universe-sized chip on his shoulder. Paul presents a loving and gracious God who is the source of life by providing crops and food.

This is the God who loves the worst part of you.

This is the God who is faithful when we are faithless.

This is the God who knows what you did this morning, and doesn’t hesitate to forgive you.

Even more, this God DID come to earth as a man. He was ignored, passed over, and finally murdered. His response? He heaped on MORE redemption by using the very instrument of his execution to bring eternal life for all.

If gods truly existed, they would be a very dangerous lot. Consider all the myths, much like the one above. Grumpy gods, sexually active gods, manic depressive gods, stupid gods. Imagine if these gods truly roamed around the earth, imposing their will over all. They believed themselves as all-knowing, all-powerful, everlasting. The earth would be their playground to consume and use for their own entertainment.

Hmm. Sounds familiar?:

You are Invincible.

You Are All-Powerful.

You Are Unstoppable.

You Are on Your Way to the Grocery Store.

- Hummer

It seems that everything in this society today wants me to be a god. Technology makes me all-knowing, consumerism makes me all powerful and marketing makes me the center of worship.

A god will use this existence as their playground. They consume relationships, money, and experiences. But:

• A gardener tends, manages, oversees, loves.
• A gardener knows that I must help shape the beautiful message that God has come to bring redemption.
• A gardener knows that by friendship, people’s lives are grounded and brought in order.
• A gardener knows that we have finally produced enough resources to feed the whole planet. It’s no longer an issue of production, but an issue of distribution.
• A gardener knows that I am to stitch back together all the brokenness that is around me today.

Paul brought the gospel. And the beautiful message of the gospel is this: Do not make me a god. I tend to the job of sowing the message of peace. I am a gardener, He is God.

That is a very good thing.

19-28 If you refuse to be a god, then you are less than human.

The response by the crowd is probably one of the most tragic events in the book of Acts. Paul not only removed Lystra’s deification from himself, he denounced any other man-made idols. In response, and fueled by local Jewish leaders from another city Lystra, the mob raised up and stoned Paul.

You’re either a god or an animal.

If you refuse the deification of man, they will demote you to something less than human. So begins the persecution of the church. So begins the persecution in your own life. Yet, for those who do accept that we are all just humans – just gardeners of God’ kingdom, you will understand the blessing of growing a handful of beans from Home Depot.

Peace

Kevin

Jealousy is like boiled chicken broth (Acts 13)

Read Acts 13 before proceeding.

Read Acts 13 online: Acts 13

~or~

Listen to Acts 13 online: Acts 13

The relationship between the apostles and the Jewish leaders has been mixed. In fact, it has looked something like this:

• · Chapter 2 General reception of message from Peter
• · Chapter 3-4 Lame beggar healed. Jewish leaders are angry and demand Peter and John stand before the council.
• · Chapter 5 High Priest is jealous of Peter and the church’s influence and arrests them. (This is to be noted)
• · Chapter 7 Stone Stephen for telling the Jewish leaders they killed Jesus wrongfully
• · Chapter 8 Saul/Paul ravages the Church
• · Chapter 9 Saul/Paul accepts Christ and begins his mission work.
• · Chapter 10 God tells Peter to put aside his Jewish customs and reach out to gentiles.
• · Chapter 11 The converted Jewish church is concerned by this breaking of tradition, but Peter convinces them otherwise.
• · Chapter 12 Herod, the supposed King of Judea kills apostles or imprisons. The Jewish leaders are happy.

Why did I work through that? Because of the turn of events in 13:16-43. Paul shares the same gospel message with a group of Jewish leaders and they love him! Barnabas and Paul are asked to share a “word of encouragement” in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. Then, Paul lays it out. God brought the law in the Old Testament. Then, He brought His Son to fulfill the law, and bring salvation to the planet in the New Testament. The Jewish leaders responded by killing Him. When Paul wraps up in verse 41, what do we expect? Paul to be arrested, stoned, something. But what happens? They beg for him to come back next week! Paul and Barnabas must have been pumped. They spoke truth to their Jewish brothers, and they loved it! That’s what makes their return to the synagogue seven days later such a let down.

Paul teaches again in verse 44, but this time the Jewish brothers oppose him because they were jealous. Why? Let me explain. See, As you read in verse 44, the whole city gathered. What is not clear until you get to verse 48 is that the “whole city” is code for the gentiles. The Jews were jealous that the gentiles would also be able to receive this good news. The Jewish leaders were so close! But because someone else might actually benefit from the same love, they threw it all away.

Jealousy is such a funny thing. It does funny stuff to us.

God might bless us in some particular way, but we seethe and we boil when another receives God’s good will.

In verse 44, it says that the Jews were jealous – an observation that Luke (Acts 5:17; 13:45) and Paul (Rom 11:19) make throughout the New Testament. The word for jealous here is “zelos”. You probably recognize it from “zeal” or “zealot”. But according to classic greek, “zeal” in this context means to be bitterly competitive. It can even be translated, “boil”.

Go. Boil a large pot of chicken broth. Before it cools down, take and pour the broth down your throat. The burning, boiling feeling in your stomach is the same feeling when one is jealous. It’s the feeling that you get when a co-worker shows off his new car because he got a raise we ALL know he should have never received. It’s the feeling when you start innocently poking around your x’s facebook account, and see that status update: “in a relationship”. It’s when you’ve gone to the uptenth wedding, and the most you can hope from the ceremony are the unhelpful words like, “Don’t you worry honey. You’re next!” You hate to tell them that you stopped catching the bouquet a year ago cause it was just too depressing. Because another wins, you feel like a loser, and so you boil.

Jealousy takes God’s love for another and hands it to you as a tall, cold glass of acid.

And it is so tiring. When my eyes are on everything else, except for the love God has already shown me, I chase a life that feels like death. Some of you probably feel this way. Maybe you have taken a job that you have no business being in, or you’ve made poor financial decisions, or you simply have cut yourself off from those who love you the most because every time you see them, your stomach “boils” with jealousy.

I cannot tell you how many dumb mistakes I have made because of jealousy. Even if my jealousy wasn’t pointed at a particular person, doesn’t mean that jealousy hasn’t gripped my heart. For example:

I am jealous that there are certain careers in which people will make so much money they will never have to worry about their bills.

Whew. That’s tough for me.

Pleasure in…Rejoice with…happy for... Now, that is freeing. What if…?

Peace

Kevin

Great Aunt Ruth's Paisley Loveseat Acts 12

Read Acts 12 before proceeding.

Read Acts 12 online: Acts 12

Listen to Acts 12 online: Acts 12

My stepmother loved to visit a lady by the name of Ruth Jones. Even though she wasn’t related to me, I still remember her as Great Aunt Ruth. Though I possessed the energy of a twelve year old hormonally induced boy, her elderly eyes were steady and unrelenting. Those steely peeps could track a bogey at 300 mph. Her interior design skills were unmatched. A visitor would never know that a glistening green carpet, the matching paisley print livingroom set, and all her imitation wood recently ordained with pledge was in the home of a double-wide. Yet, what I remember most were the steady eyes, the pillowy white hair, and her hands. Especially the hands. They were translucent, cold and waxy. And they were the kind of hands that prayed a good deal. Sometimes slightly folded, sometimes wrung, and sometimes pushed together like two woodboards. She used to write me in college that she would pray for me and my family back at home. I imagined her sitting on her paisley green love seat, with those waxy fingers pressed together, calling down the power of the Almighty. I don’t think I truly understood what that meant then, or what it means now here in verse 5. Still, when I read verse 5, I imagine hundreds of Ruth’s praying for Peter. The mighty Herod, backed by the Roman Army, versus a room full of great Aunt Ruth’s praying.

Herod Agrippa 1 did not know what he got himself into.

V1 – 5

The grandson of Herod the great, Herod Agrippa I, reached from his throne in Jerusalem, and picked off one of Jesus’ precious 12, James, the brother of John. The story just got real. It was one thing for a Jewish brother or sister to be persecuted. Just the common folk - you know, the cousin of the guy you know from college. All of these deaths were local, and insignificant. But, one of Jesus’ own? This is James the son of thunder we’re talking about. The apostles that are supposed to be leaders of the future tribes of Israel? Rome was starting to pick off the very core of the church.

Persecution just went national.

And Herod loved it. See, this was his career job. He recently took over the reign of Judea and Samaria in 41 AD, and Herod really needed to keep the job. He had already embarrassed himself with a string of bad debts, then was accused of treason and sent to prison by the Emperor Claudius. he knew that to keep his job, he needed to keep “pax romana”, (Roman Peace). This meant he needed to make the Jewish people happy. Nothing would make them happier than to destroy the heretical church. So, Herod, having won kudos for killing James, goes after the head of the church, Peter. The great, Roman power goes after the head of the church. How does the church respond? They gather together and have a good ol’ prayer meeting.

Wow.

What about writing the local legislative? Or breaking Peter out? Or causing a riot? Where are the viral youtube videos, with cheap flashing fonts, bad lighting and the unsteady cam shot?

6-11

Verse 6, we find Peter locked away. Probably in the tower of Antonia, a roman garrison. It was located northwestern corner of the temple complex. Standard procedure. Herod arrested Peter during the Passover feast. But, because he knew that a good Jewish leader would not allow a trial or execution in Jerusalem during the weak of Passover, he waited. Also standard procedure. But, Herod did arrest Peter when he knew the city population would be twice its size due to the feast, so a good deal more would see Peter’s death after the Passover week ended. Herod knows how to work the marketing campaign for himself. Standard, once again. Lastly, Peter was bound between two guards, and there were sentries at the door. Still, pretty standard. Herod knows how to play the game.

But something otherworldly takes place in the inspite of our self-aggrandizing politician. It is so unexpected and so transcendent, that even Peter doesn’t quite understand what happens next. This sudden, detailed account of the angelic encounter creates a heart-pounding scene. First, the angel wakes him. Then, instructs him to grab his cloak and sandals. It describes in verse 10 that they approach the gates, which unlocked and opened by themselves. You can almost see Peter’s heavy breath in the night air by the end of verse 10. Suddenly, the angel is gone.

12-18

When Peter makes his way back to the house of Mary, mother of John, what does he find them doing? It says the people are still praying. STILL PRAYING. Peter was probably arrested in the afternoon. They prayed throughout the evening, and until the morning. Maybe there is an ancient way of praying that is lost on my modern sentiments...anyway. Now, we shouldn’t miss this. It is no coincidence that verse 5 ends with, “prayer was made to God by the church.” When Peter arrives in verse 12, it says they were “gathered together and were praying”. They pray. Peter, their prayer request walks up to the gate and calls out them.

Has that ever happened to you? You are up against a Herod. You pray for something crazy, something out of this world, and God answers the prayer? You look at yourself in the mirror and say: “Me? Why would the God of the universe answer me?” Why would the God of the universe listen to my great Aunt Ruth who prayed for me, and my salvation and my studies and my ministry and my future wife?

The people at Mary’s house felt the exact same way. Peter knocks at the gate. Rhoda, who will be forever remembered as our biblical airhead, runs to the gate. And “in her joy” completely forgets to open the gate. She runs back to the people to tell them Peter is alive. They tell her that she is out of her mind. And if her actions are an indication of her state-of-mind, they might be on to something. But, in the end they go to meet Peter.

Many scholars observe the almost comical, lighthearted encounter in verses 12-17. This reads like a story we tell over and over. Remember those stories your family tells around the dinner table about the alligator infested water and how your big brother almost fell over? Or how your crazy brother from Mississipi loved to go catfish noodling. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Click here.

This is the story of common folk. They do not have power or influence. They work at Starbucks, the dentist's office, etc. This is the story when common folk, approach an uncommon God, by pressing their hands together like two woodboards, are able to defeat the almighty Herod. This is my great Aunt Ruth, who isn’t really my great aunt, but who really is my great Aunt, as the kingdom of God goes. On the paisley print love seat, she prays for a curly-head boy who can’t fathom the power of those waxy, cold, fingers.

It’s what Karl Barth meant when he said:

“To clasp hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”

Wherever you are when you read this, I’m not sure if the financial walls are closing in, or you are at the end of your marriage. I don’t know if all of your friends have abandoned you at the hour you most needed it. Maybe, stuff can’t seem to work out. But, I know that God is all about the common folk. He is all about addressing the needs of those who need it most. Pray, pray, pray. Join others in prayer. I cannot even begin to explain to you the extend of God's goodness. Frankly, it will surprise you. It surprised the church in Jerusalem. It still surprises me.

More so, some of us might be the King Herod in the story. Let it go. When we abandon the futility of our careers, our influence, our ambition, and recognize that we could never stand up to my great aunt Ruth and those beautiful hands, then we will be that much closer to the kingdom.

But, the writer doesn’t quite end here. Take a moment and read 20-25. Reflect on two passages: v22“He did not give God the glory…” v24 “But the word of God increased and multiplied.”

Peace

Kevin

Just a little extra.

For the writer Luke, who wrote both Luke and Acts, prayer was a very important theme. Luke seems to believe that without it, the work of the Spirit could not be unleashed (Luke 3:21; 6:12; 9:18; 9:29; 21:36; 22:32; 23:34; 23:46. Acts: 1:14,24; 2:42; 4:24-31; 6:4,6; 9:40; 10:2,4,9,31; 12:12; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25; 22:17; 28:8). For Luke, you cannot separate one from the other. If you have time on your hands, review the passages and consider what your life would look like if you began mixing in a little more prayer and the power of the Spirit.

Broadcasting God (Acts 11)

Read Acts 11 before proceeding.

Read Acts 11 online: Acts 11

Listen to Acts 11 online: Acts 11

1 – 18

Peter directly disobeyed the Jewish law by eating with Gentiles. And to break the Jewish law meant that one sinned against God. Some people in the Church were encouraged by this bold move, others were appalled. The ones called “the circumcision” (v1) were critical of Peter’s actions and wanted him to explain his activities.

I can hear the conversation now between Peter and the circumcised Jewish men.

“They invited me!” Peter points to himself in defense.

“If a prostitute invited you over, would you say yes?” A man sitting directly across from Peter leans in.

“It’s not like that. It was only food,” Peter's large, fishermen arms cross over. “Our food laws have hindered us too long. God does not show partiality and he doesn’t want us too either.”

“So, now God doesn’t care about the law?” a man next to him asks. Yet, his tone said he already knew the answer.

Peter stood to his feet, “Of course he cares about His law. But he DID write it. If he decides to change it, then who are we to say otherwise? Besides, there were others. The Spirit told me to go to the house. Then, after I gave the message, the Spirit fell on them. We all saw it.”

“Peter, you are outspoken and need attention,” the first man spoke, “This only proves how big of an ego you have. It will get us into trouble. Our Jewish brothers are already suspicious of us. They are ready at any moment to crush us.”

“But others saw. There were witnesses. What does the law say about witnesses? 2 or more? Others saw the Spirit come over the men and women.”

“I doubt that,” The man locked his hands behind his back. He started to pace, with eyes squinting to the ceiling. It looked as if he were trying to tune into God’s frequency. He stopped pacing. It looked as if he found the right frequency, “First, why would the Spirit lead you to break the law of God? Second, why does the Spirit need a mere man to tell his message? If he wanted these heathens to know the message, He could go directly to the heathens without jeopardizing your faith. Even if nothing came of it, it's the very appearance of evil...”

“What God called good, we cannot call bad. And if He wants salvation to be brought to the gentiles," Peter's gnarled hands pointed to the ceiling of the synagogue, "then I will jeopardize my faith, myself, my family any day of the week!” His ears burned red hot.

The antagonist balled up his hands. Then, he looked directly at Peter, “God doesn’t need your help Simon Peter.”

“But He wants it,” Simon Peter shot back.

“What happened exactly?” Several men turned to the voice in the back of the room. It was one of those men that rarely spoke, but when he did, all others quieted. “Forgive me Peter. The events are still vague?”

So, Peter retells the story of Cornelius in Acts 11:1-17.

Ugh.

That’s my response. It can be a real bummer standing before people and trying to explain how God is stretching me, challenging me or blessing me and the people around me. How many living rooms, coffee shops, bars, or kitchens have we been in where we are trying to explain what we believe God is doing? How many times have you preferred not to say anything? You can hear the accusation of the listeners, the strange looks, the “pat-on-your-head” answers. “That’s nice dear. Well, hope that works out.”

Ugh.

Sometimes, I would rather not share God’s activity in my life (good or bad) because I really don’t need the knee jerk judgments. Sometimes, I’d rather drive a staple gun between my big toe and the slightly smaller one than talk about God.

A few of my friends have explained to me why they don’t enjoy talking about God’s activity in their life:

• If it isn’t really God at work, I feel stupid.
• Judge. Judge. Judge.
• I don’t really think about God’s goodness, rather the world’s brokenness.
• I don’t want to brag. Talking about God’s goodness is a veiled, “my life is perfect. Why isn’t yours?”
• Talking about God isn’t cool in social circles (which is a shame. If we did it right, then when we speak about God, people should feel as if they entered into something sacred and beautiful, if only for a moment).
• I don’t know God. If I did, I’d be more than happy to talk about Him.

Truly, it is a relief to remember that it’s about God and not me. How people respond to God’s work cannot be on me. So what if you don’t know Him too well? What you do know, you can tell others. Maybe you only dwell on the brokenness of the world. What if this is just a great opportunity to learn how to dwell on God’s goodness (Psalm 145). What about veiled bragging? If you truly talk ABOUT God, then you’re bragging on God and not yourself. Most people will walk away with something good when you brag on God.

If I give witness to the greatness of God’s work, His glory is no longer muted, rather it is broadcasted in the living room, coffee shop and bar. If I were completely honest, the majority of people have been blessed because I let God’s goodness be broadcasted, even if a few still respond with only judgment and cynicism.

(verse 18) When they [Peter's critics] heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Peace

Kevin

"R U sittin down?" - Momma (Acts 10)

Read Acts 10 before continuing.

Read Acts 10 online: Acts 10

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I haven’t seen the horizon for weeks.

It was almost a reversed agoraphobia. Claustrophobia would probably be the correct term. Having lived in San Diego for a couple of years, I realized that I hadn’t seen the horizon for weeks. Even though I lived near the ocean, and had the Pacific to my west. I was surrounded by dorm rooms and high rises and navy bases (yes, plural). You have to understand, for most of my life I woke up to the sun beaming over the horizon of the Sierra Nevada’s, and falling on the horizon of the San Joaquin Valley. That day, I knoew I had to drive to the ocean, to the country, something where I could see the sun rest on the ground.

It was one of the moments of my life when I realized that we humans love walls. The more boxes the better. Borders and boundaries and hedges and fences keep us feel safe. Keep the good in and the bad out.

The revolution of grace came to abolish walls.

The Jewish religious leaders had distorted the law. The law was to communicate the holiness of God’s people. A holiness that should be attractive and draw others toward God. But the corrupted law only built up a dividing wall between gentile and Jew, which Jesus tore down in Ephesians 2:14. In fact, I think we would all be surprised to know that the true law commanded Israel to accept strangers as one of their own. Mi casa, su casa. Leviticus 19:33:

33“‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

V1-8

Inviting a gentile to come over for lamb and kosher key lime pie as “one of their own” was a far cry from where the Jewish people were in Peter’s day. Yet, this was God’s plan all along. Cornelius is identified as a “God-fearer” (v1). Essentially, this means Cornelius worshiped Israel’s God, probably at one of their local synagogues. But there is an indication that Cornelius needs more, as we will see in Peter’s encounter. More so, the fact that God sends an angel to prepare Cornelius for a meeting with Peter. This is called preveneint grace by our arminian folk and common grace by our Calvinist folk (though these two theological camps don’t necessarily agree with each other. Yes. This is another wall we’ve created). Essentially, it means that God prepares a person to find Christ, even before they hear the message. In other words he softens them up. Now, all we need is a Christ-follower to be willing to cross the chasm and meet him. BTW – for the believer, this is not a “meet in the middle”, this is not “meet 2/3 of the way”. This is going all the way over to the God-seeker. This is the WAY OF JESUS. Wow, God’s got some real work to do with Peter…me too in fact.

V9-16

For Peter, there are several ways to sin. Eating the food of a gentile is on the top of the list. So, when God commands him to "rise, Peter; kill and eat", Peter hears in verse 12, “rise, Peter; kill and SIN”. For Peter, he heard right – at a certain time of history. It was considered sin to eat certain types of food - like snakes and bugs and pretty much anything on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. But of course, this is more than just food. God says to Peter, “What I have made clean, do not call common”. Jesus had given them freedom. He took down a wall that needed to be removed. If Peter was to have the chance encounter with Cornelius in the next section, Peter needed to enter Cornelius' house. And that couldn't be done if Peter still held to a law that God no longer commanded. The most fascinating part is that Peter is not aware of this freedom that Jesus gave at the cross. The church had been operating for at least 12 years by this point. How many years passed and did Peter not know the freedom he had? There was no wall.

What about me? Jesus died and rose again almost 2000 years.

I smile when I think about this. How many constructed walls are out there? I have been taught not to engage so many different types of people? Sometimes it is implied, sometimes its not.

There is no wall between me and the poor.There is no wall between me and my in-laws. There is no wall between me and a terrorist. There is no wall between the rich and the Hispanic worker. There is no wall between the Uptown and the homeless population. Don’t get me started on denominations. There is no wall.

There is only horizon. The smell of air and peach orchards.

V17-33

As our story continues, you will note that God orchestrates this encounter. In verse 19, “the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” “Without hesitation” is such a powerful act. How many times has someone put their hand out to help you, but you saw the slight “hesitation” in their eyes. They still have a wall to push through.

But the best part of verse 20 is “for I have sent them.” Most of the time we put up walls because we think they please God. What pleases God is that he raises up God-seekers, and he sends you to them to share the message of the Son. He doesn’t want us to keep building walls. He wants us to scale them.

Peter does just that in verse 23. He moves from his “sacred dwelling” and walks to Joppa. And then he does something that would make momma text great aunt Marge right then and there:

R U sitting down?

He walked into a gentile’s home.

It was also forbidden for a Jew to enter into the home of a gentile. By doing so, Peter passed through not one wall, but two.

V34-47

The best line is here in verse 34:

So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality. But in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Then Peter retells his encounter with the angel and the unclean food. By the end of the story, not only do they receive the Holy Spirit, but the baptism of water.

We are free. No walls. No boundaries. Only the Spirit and the revelation of God to guide us through the open valley of life. We are free to move toward those who are in darkness and show them a new light. Feel the grass at your feet and the sun on your face.

We are free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Peace

Kevin

no blog for today...

took a sabbath today, so no blog. sorry folks. It'll be a twofer tomorrow. I won't make a habit of it, but the koine staff has been burning the candle at both ends for some really cool stuff coming up.

Kevin

You write the blog... (Acts 8) Aug 26

Review Acts 8 before you continue.

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Today, we'll let everyone else do a little work. Review chapter 8. The persecution of Saul led to the dispersion of the Christians from Jerusalem. The church was then scattered from there and throughout the meditteranean. Yet, it seemed to be a good thing.

Seattle Times writes a compelling article on the Chinese persecution of the church. In China, when the western missionaries were kicked out by the communist regime in 1949, the church had to go underground. They were at 1 million in China. Now, the underground church is estimated to be 50 million. (Seattle Times)

In Acts 8, this is what seems to happen. Do you think this is necessary? What do you think of religious persecution today? And an honest question - how much would you be able to stand by your beliefs?

Respond in the comments section. Take as much time and space as you need.

God's Penthouse Acts 7 (Aug 25)

Read Acts 7 before you continue.

Read it online here: Acts 7

Listen online here: Acts 7 Audio

Where is God supposed to live now?

I wonder what the religious leaders thought as they saw the temple, God’s villa being torn down in AD 70? His front porch burned. His grass being trampled by the Gentile Romans. Did they think back to Stephen’s speech about temples and God’s home and what Stephen said about it? Did they ask that question,

“Where is God going to live now?”

It had been taught by the Jewish rabbis that God’s planet was holy, but it worked in a concentric circle. Kind of like the toy that little kids play with. 5 colored plastic rings, one slightly smaller than the other are stacked on top of each other. The higher you stack, the smaller the circle. Until you get to the smallest circle. The biggest ring was the outer gentile world. But you geographically worked the circles until you got to Judea ( a little holier), Jerusalem (a lot holier), then the temple (really holy), and then the you get to the the Holy of Holies within the temple. A small room with a curtain in front of it where only the most sinless priest could enter. It was the holiest room on the planet.

Because that was God’s penthouse.

Now, to the story of Stephen. Here is that formula again. Someone in the church made the Jewish religious leaders angry - this time it is Stephen in 6:8. They arrest and bring him before the Sanhedrin. He preaches. Then, they let him go…or at least that’s the way it is supposed to work out.

Stephen is brought in at verse 6:13 because once again, they have accused one of Christ’s followers of stirring up an uprising. They accuse Stephen of preaching that he would continue Jesus’ ministry of destroying both the law, and the temple – God’s place of dwelling (Mark 14:57-58). There are so many ways Stephen could have responded in 7:1. As he begins to respond, he doesn’t try to defend his position regarding the temple. Instead, he reminds them that God cannot live in their little temple.

Stephen’s sermon is big, bulky and would require an intermission, so we will do a quick scan.

V1-8 The point of this section is that God spoke to and made a promise to Abraham WITHOUT a temple.

V9-16 Joseph – once again, though subtly, no temple is mentioned in God’s conduct with Israel. He deals directly with his people.

V17-43 – Review of the story of Moses. No temple.

V44-45 – Then, Stephen makes a significant statement which we cannot overlook. God used the tent of witness as an avenue to speak to God’s people. But still, no temple. It would seem that God is free to use whatever mode of communication to speak to his people.

V46-53.

And this is where Stephen takes it to his listeners. He shows them that first, Solomon made the temple. But more so, this didn’t mean the temple could house God. Read that powerful statement in 7:49:

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?

I wonder what the Jewish leaders thought in 70 AD when they saw God’s house crumble?

Sometimes I put God in places that I think he should exist. For me, it is in my plans. I squeeze God into a plan of mine, and then I’m devastated when the plan crumbles. And when that fails I ask, where is God?

God is not in a temple.

God is not in a plan.

God is not in a church service.

God is not in financial provision.

God is not in peace.

God is not in anything because He cannot be contained by anything. God is everywhere. He walked with Abraham and Joseph and Moses ever before there was a temple. Though God is not in the box I need him to be, He is at my side.

God is with me.

We like buildings and boxes and intellectual boundaries. The infinite God cannot be contained by the finite.

God is with me.

More so, we are on a pilgrimage. Just as God's people were, we, the people of Jesus, are a group of gypsies continually moving through life. And as we move, we are blessed that God isn’t in a penthouse at the temple.

God is with me.

Think if Abraham, Joseph and Moses had to wait for the temple to encounter God. Think if I had to wait until Sunday morning to encounter God?

God is with me.

We even think that God will bail Stephen out at the end of this chapter as he bailed Peter out several times before. Right? That’s the formula, that's the box that we like God to be in. He bails everyone else out, why not Stephen? Unfortunately, God allows one who has a “face like an angel” (6:15) to be brutally murdered by enraged priests and religious leaders. I imagine, I hope that Stephen carried that same message as rocks broke ribs and blood poured from his eyes. He didn’t need temples, or perfect plans or even happy endings to THIS life. I am confident that as Stephen crumbled to the ground, this thought was in his mind.

God is with me.

(BTW – some of you may wonder where I get some of these crazy notions. Know that my craziness is shared by others. Besides prayer and my own study, I got the idea that Stephen was arguing against the temple from The New American Commentary: Acts by John B. Polhill. Check it out. It’s an exegetical and theological work).

Acts 6 The Grind of Grace (Mon 8/24)

Read Acts 6

You can read acts 6 online here: ESV Bible

The Grind of Grace

It is one thing to put on one fundraiser concert for the homeless people over christmas, its another thing to invite them over every day for dinner. It is one thing to give someone a buck on the way to work, its another thing to give a buck every day on the way to work. The church of Jerusalem has been in the grind of showing grace to those who need it for nearly 5 years. The arrest and release of Peter was distant history, and now, they are well on their way in establishing the church in Jerusalem. More so, they were facing the day-in-day out of being a source of redemption for their community. The apostles will be pressed to start making some fundamental administrative positions.

V1

As it always goes – work, church, home. People feel misunderstood and neglected. It seems that the situation was inevitable. The Hellenistic widows were many. They had moved from the meditterean to live out their waning years in the “holy city” – much like Florida. The Hebrew Jews on the other hand were well connected and informed about the goings on. They had lived there all their life. Of course the local Hebrew widow "Sarah" would be remembered more than widow "Dionysis" who just moved in from Gaul last week. And that’s exactly what happened. Widows were put on a list When it came to serving (Acts 4:35), the Jewish woman was recognized quicker and serviced faster than the Hellenized woman. Paul seems to work on this issue a little more in 1 Tim 5:1-9. Essentially, he sets up parameters on how the church is to provide for the money and resources of a widow.

V2

The apostles are charged with the duty of taking care of the situation. What a sticky situation. They could handle it so well. And so there response is genius. But what do you think of their response?

Should leaders – apostles, pastors, etc be committed to spending their time praying and studying the word? Do you agree? Do you not agree?

Their response is genius in my book. Sometimes leaders choose volunteers or other employees with the idea that they are less than – less than spiritual, less than educated, less than influential. The apostles order that a person “full of the Spirit and wisdom” be given the job. We have some pretty important roles in Koiné Uptown. I call them our be healed point person, behold point person and be tribal point person. These are not throw away roles at all!! It would be stupid as a leader to empower just anyone to own these responsibilities. They have to – as it says in the text, show some wisdom in that particular area. And they also need to be someone that God has ordained for such a task.

If the apostles are going to give away the ministry, let it be done in such a way that it doesn’t create more distance between the “professional” and “people”. The best way to do that is to take every role seriously, and raise the bar so that if someone wants to serve, it is not a service given lightly.

That's what I got today.

Peace

Kevin

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Acts 5 Apostles can't help themselves (Fri 21)

I have had a cold. I have had a fever. I have had a fever for two weeks. But I have never been so plagued with disease that if a man passed by I would crawl under his shadow to be cured. But, if I had pancreatic cancer, I'm not certain that I wouldn't try. Martha works at my favorite Starbucks, the one off La Vista. I’m not sure when we started talking about our future aspirations to write a novel, but it was definitely a shared interest. In fact, it was more than an interest for Martha, it was going to be her life. She had already finished her 3^rd draft on a historic novel. She was busy getting an agent. And then, I didn’t see Martha for nearly a year. The next time I saw her, I almost didn’t recognize her. She was recovering from pancreatic cancer. We all know that uncomfortable feeling as you talk to someone who is racked by disease. Like you just got caught by a massive wave, and you don’t know which way is up.

if Peter were alive today, I don’t care how weird it would be, I would fly him to Dallas and bring him to Starbucks. And when he healed Martha, I would take the disease map below, and walk with him to every point on the map. I could imagine it would be like when you walk through a field and brush your hands over the high grass. Everything you touched was healed. I hear about healing ministries all the time, but I believe this would be different. Peter would wear converses and a white t-shirt. He would be common and overlooked. This guy’s face would never be on a billboard: “Peter THE ROCK performs healing at a city near you. Buy your ticket’s today”. But when I was near him I would be struck by how simple he spoke. He didn’t care to agree with a thing I said, but he didn’t care to convince me of what he was about. He just spoke simply. He spoke with a simple boldness that didn’t sound like a bullhorn, dominating and manipulating. It was a boldness that was a simple truth. Frightening but good at the same time – much like lightening. More than anything, his words would reflect his healing. Restorative words that talked about God, love, turning away from... When I would be near Peter, I would believe I was near the divine - The Spirit.

And I would want to tell everybody, except for my religious leaders. Not sure if they could handle it.

12 – 16.

In verse 12, Peter, John and all the apostles stood at the front door of the local religious center – Solomon’s Portico. Today it might be the steps of First Baptist, Jewish Temple, Mosque. Nevertheless, this was in direct disobedience of the Sadducees. Yet, the apostles seemed to think they were going to go where the pain was, no matter if it was in direct disobedience of the city.

Go get ‘em guys.

These steps were filled with the type of people that it should be filled with – those who needed the power of God to renew their body. When they learned that the apostles could give it to them, they would crawl under their very shadow. What a strange, yet beautiful picture. The work of the Spirit through these men were so renown, that people would try to get in their very shadow. Much like the woman in Luke 8:44, who wants to touch even the hem of Jesus’ robe. This was to be expected. In the ancient world, the shadow was thought to be a part of someone’s being and held its own magical power. Yet, we all know that God’s power is not in shadows or hems. People do not need to crawl or chase after God. God came to this planet through Jesus, and still comes to us today. But still, God is not devoid of passion. He will still heal and renew us even if we have limited understanding of His divine power.

17-31

Archbiship of Junani Luwum o f Uganda:

Without bleeding, the church fails to bless.

Of course, when the Divine raises up simple men and women to be a blessing to a community, it causes all sorts of trouble. We can consider this The Empire Strikes Back Part 2 (yes. Another Star Wars reference. My goal is one a year.) the Sadducees step it up a notch. They have them arrested. How does God respond. It’s almost funny. He sends an angel to release them. The angel in verse 20 says to “go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life”. If God had said that to me, I would be like, “seriously”. The first two times that I caused a scene and got a call from the local priest wasn't enough? Yet, the apostles go right back to where all the trouble started. Not only that, they entered the temple was “daybreak”. This would be the time of morning sacrifice – in other words high traffic. It’s like God keeps setting them up for failure. But it turns out very different.

Alright. We know the drill. The Sadducees have them arrested AGAIN and brought before the Sanhedrein. What is Peter’s response for the second time: “We must obey God and not man”. No statistic about the demise of the American culture. No nifty Christian bumper sticker here. Heck, where is his reference that starts off, “in seminary, I learned…blah, blah, blah” (Lord, I repent). Peter simply states the truth once again. “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33-42

When the Spirit speaks, there are two responses. For those who are cold and resistant, it makes them angry as we see in verse 33). It’s not an “you are annoying me” anger. It is a brutal, destructive form of anger. The second response is resonance. For those who at least fear God, it resonates in your heart as we see with Gamaleil in verse 38. He leaves room for the possibility of God. It does not indicate his position as a Christ-follower, but it reverence for God comes out. BE PREPARED FOR THIS. I have to prepare myself. There is no need to force an angry person to listen to you, but there is EVERY need to continue sharing your heart with a person that leaves room for the possibility of God.

Now, having followed the apostles through another of their wild adventures, the verse that I want to land on is verse 41.

“then they left the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

Wow. Don’t know if I’m there yet. But I suspect that whatever resilience and joy the apostles had was not from within anyway. It came from the main character of all the book of Acts. The Spirit. When reading all of these, we have to include the Spirit in our formula. To see the book of Acts only as the action of men and women leaves these stories distant and without relationship to my life. But the book of Acts is trying to say otherwise. It is telling us:

When the Spirit is a part of you, this is what happens:

you are a blessing.

You are simple.

You are bold.

You are fully convinced that Jesus brings the dead to life.

You will be misunderstood.

You will have a profound joy.

Peace friends,

Kevin

Acts 4 Boldness and Bullhorns (Aug 20)

Read Acts 4 before you continue.

BOLDNESS

What a word. In a sense, it speaks for itself. It’s a word that makes me feel uncomfortable. Draws up images of bullhorn preachers on street corners and pick up lines at Uptown bar and grill.

It means nothing to me that Peter was bold. Apostles are bold. It’s what they do well. But today, boldness is creepy and left to FOX and Lou Dobbs. It’s great for sports and war, but not for the front door steps First Community Church of Jerusalem.

Review chapter 4. Underline every time you see the word “boldness”.

You should have found it four times. The term was used about Peter every time.

There was a boldness that I possessed when I told Jenny my feelings for her nearly 8 years ago. I did not stand on a street corner. I did not march before her, wagging my finger and explaining to her why I would be the perfect boyfriend. I didn’t show a video. But, with passion and conviction I told her what I felt. It was compelling type of truth that had to be spoken. More importantly, it was the type of boldness that was open, vulnerable and without manipulation.

A woman doesn’t want manipulation; she wants to see the truth of a man’s heart. She doesn’t want a bullhorn, she wants simple boldness. (by the way women. Take the bumbling, sincere guy over the smooth guy any day. Jenny did. Doesn't mean I'm perfect, but it means that Jenny knew exactly what she got!)

In the beginning, the Sadducees arrested Peter and John for the political implication of the healing, but they were even more afraid because of his boldness in verse 13. One has to understand, they didn’t hear a bullhorn as we might all expect. What they heard was: “parrhesia”. Parrhesia, or “boldness” in greek is truth told without manipulation, generalization or coercion. This boldness earned attention and respect by the crowd because the words came easy and without duplicity. They spoke not to convince the Sadducees of the truth, nor to hide it. They simply spoke (Matt 10:19).

This is how I should talk about God.

This is how I should live.

It says in verse 13 that the Sadducees “perceived that they were uneducated, Koine men,” er, sorry. Slip of the finger. “…common men, and they were astonished.” Notice the Sadducees’ response in verse 15. While Peter and John talked openly about what they believed, the Sadducees had to send them away and close the doors. In the chambers, they “conferred” amongst themselves. The language of verse 16 is classic backroom politics. It’s the type of politics that we revel in when we partake, but burns us when we are the ones being kept out – especially when it is about us. But in the end, all the politicians could do was send them away with threats. Now, when manipulative men threaten honest people, it only emboldens them. And that is exactly what happens next.

Verse 23-31

Now, they praise God while incorporating David’s Psalm. In verse 26 what do they ask for? Not a retreat center. Not a place to hide away. They want more of this – this boldness. An ability to simply speak what is right. No manipulation. No generalization and no “spin”. Simple truth.

Man, what I would pay to live like this. Persecution might come, but imagine a life filled with simple, honest words. To live such a life that I wouldn’t have to explain it away or “spin” it to my grandchildren.

Verse 32-37

Now, look what happens in verse 32. A simple, “common” Peter proclaims the good news of Jesus to his enemies. The Sadducees send him away with threats. How do the people respond? With oneness! They were of one heart and soul! A politicians dream! Yet, the unity that a politician could only dream of was brought about by the Spirit and the faithfulness of a simple, bold man. Whether big or small, everyone of us will create unity when we give up the backbiting and manipulation, and speak truth about Jesus and ourselves.

MANIPULATION

It will only bring me discord.

BOLDNESS

May it bring me peace.

Peace friends,

Kevin

Acts 3 I A homeless man's eyes fall on my pocket (Aug 19)

READ ACTS CHAPTER 3

How many times have I seen it? A homeless man or woman's eyes fall on my pocket. How about the black man at the La Vista Starbucks yelling “Come on now. Come on now.” How many times have I seen it? A lonely person seeking just a little time with me – to fill the unfulfilled parts of the heart? How many times has someone needed a strength I could never give?

We don’t have what it takes.

Acts 3, Peter and John walk pass the gate "Beautiful". They have come for a time of prayer. This would have been in the ninth hour, or 3 o’clock. Peter sees the crippled man. This relationship between Peter and the crippled man would be mutual as was the custom of the day. Peter fulfills a spiritual obligation by giving alms to the poor. The crippled man receives the money he desperately needs (Luke 18:35). So, the beggar and Peter’s eyes meet. Will Peter meet this mutual obligation? What is Peter's response?

“Silver and gold have I none. But what I have, I give to you.”

Peter’s response is beautiful and powerful. It tells me so much about the state of our very first Church leaders. First, it tells me what Peter DIDN’T have. The apostle Peter, the rock on which God built his church (Matt 16:18) didn’t have a buck-fifty on him. If I am to love, to heal, to restore, it is with a power completely outside of my control. It's so hard to admit that. I try to give pocket lint away to people who need to be healed.

"Maybe this is why I keep failing in that relationship?"

What he did have was a gift to physically heal. If I could exchange one for the other! Think about using such a gift with the Sudanese AIDS victims or the mentally ill living under Woodall Rogers. But would I? If I had the choice, would I give up the opportunity to bless another for money?

James Boice tells us a powerful story about Thomas Aquinas: “St. Thomas Aquinas was in Rome. He was walking along the street with a cardinal. The cardinal noticed a beggar. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a silver coin and gave it to him. Then he turned to Aquinas, the great doctor of the church and said, “Well Thomas," he turned to Aquinas, "fortunately we can no longer say, as Peter did, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” St. Thomas replied, “Yes, that is true. But neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

But Peter does.

Truly, a part of me wishes that I wish I could make the decision between money and healing - so I might choose healing. My family is broken, my friends are broken, my city is broken. It is at these times I wish we all had the ability to bless and heal. Maybe God doesn’t demand we decide between our own personal wealth and the ability to heal someone physically, emotionally or spiritually, but sometimes I wish it were a choice.

OK. Stop everything you are doing. Take a moment and close your eyes. Ask the question: “How have I touched another so that they may be healed?” With your eyes closed, take the opportunity to work through your rolodex of relationships. Is my presence a transformative presence?

Alright. Continuing – I am fully convinced that Peter wishes that we carry this blessing to EVERYONE around us. Finish reading the chapter and read for yourself. Verse 7-26. Then, come back.

Now, reread verse 25.

“…And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

We carry the gene of blessing, the gene of restoration.

This is not just another verse in the Bible. First, Peter preaches to the Jewish people to turn and follow Christ. Then, he reminds them of their Abrahamic covenant (an unbreakable promise God made to them nearly 2000 years earlier Genesis 12:2-3). He paints a beautiful picture of their purpose. What is it? To be a blessing. To touch the heart of their brother and sister, and transform their lives. To pay for the damage even if it was “his” fault. To call up the dreaded family member. To put it ALL down and talk with your daughter, no matter how silly the conversations. To carry the “gene blessing” to all the nations. We might not have all the riches in the world, but we still carry the power of Christ within us to bless those around us.

What am I carrying with me today as I walk out the door?

Peace friends,

Kevin