Sept. 1

Read Genesis 17

 ³ Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ⁴ "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. ⁵ No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (The Message)


Abram = exalted father
Abraham = father of many
Abram's encounter with God leads to a name change. It isn't that Abram was a bad name or that God said you are no longer to be called Bob now you will be known as Sam. God takes Abram and makes him even more than he was before and so the change in names reflects God's promise to Abraham and those who are going to follow after him. The name change is a reflection of the before and after experience of Abram/Abraham and Abraham will never again be known as Abram. The new name reflects this new relationship.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Have you had an encounter with God that was worthy of a name change?
• Genesis relates a conversation that God and Abraham have that makes Abraham fall on his face. What would be your response if God spoke to you?
• If those who know you best could pick a name that best represents your relationship to God what would it be? What would you want it to be?
• Are you known more for who you were before you began to take Jesus seriously or after you began a serious faith journey?

Aug. 31

Read Genesis 16

 ⁶ "You decide," said Abram. "Your maid is your business." (The Message)

This is not Abram's finest hour. In fact there are a number of times that Abram doesn't rise to the task in the way that we might hope. Abram faces the conflict between Sarai and Hagar and rather than doing the right thing and protecting Hagar and Ishmael he tells Sarai to just do what ever she wants. Hagar and Ishmael are protected and saved by God, but not because of anything that Abram does. Was God leading Abram to intercede on Hagar and Ishmael's behalf and he missed it? Would it have been any different if Abram had stepped into the conflict and tried to work things out before Sarai sent Hagar off?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Should Abram have handled this situation differently?
• How might things have been different if Abram had not let Sarai be abusive to Hagar?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you chose to not get involved in a conflict that later ended badly?
• How might you help two people who are fighting like Sarai and Hagar today?

Aug. 30

Read Genesis 15

 ⁹ God said, "Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, and a dove and a young pigeon."

 ^10-12 He brought all these animals to him, split them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. But he didn't split the birds. Vultures swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram scared them off. As the sun went down a deep sleep overcame Abram and then a sense of dread, dark and heavy. (The Message)

I once heard a talk that Richard Foster gave in which he told the story of being given this passage as a "Word from God." It is a strange passage to receive if you stop to think about it. Abram's action after getting the animals for the sacrifice is one of waiting and scaring off the birds and that is all. It isn't what most of us would like to receive as a scriptural guidance. But there is wisdom to be found here for us as it was for Foster. It could be that our roll in a particular time is to simply get things ready by doing what God has directed and then keep things away from it that might steel it away from God. The truth is that we can't make God show up. Sometimes we simply need to stay focused and keep things (ourselves) ready for what God will choose to do. The key is to recognize those things that might take away what we have offered to God before God chooses to use that offering.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think Abram did to chase away the vultures?
• Do you think Abram got tired of waiting for God to show up?
• What gifts do you have that God has encouraged you to prepare for his use?
• What do you need to chase away from your gifts so that you are ready when God shows up to use them?

Aug. 29

Read John 3: 1-19

¹¹I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹²I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

 ¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Jesus and Nicodemus here are pictured having quite the conversation. Nicodemus is asking Jesus some honest questions about what Jesus is saying and trying to understand it from his own perspective. Jesus response is a challenge to Nicodemus that makes him look at the world and what he assumed was correct in a whole new way. One of the things I find fascinating about this exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus is that we are left wondering what happens next. We are not told that Nicodemus left everything and followed Jesus like the other disciples did, in fact it would appear that he didn't become one of those following Jesus at that time. We see Nicodemus next in the midst of the Jewish leaders arguing about Jesus in John 7 and then finally in John 19 when Nicodemus brings spices to prepare Jesus body following his death.
How did Nicodemus go from this conversation to putting his whole career and maybe even his life on the line by publicly appearing to care for Jesus body? That is something we don't know and yet many of us know it through our personal stories, we find it impossible to tell the day and the date that we went from wondering about Jesus to believing in Jesus. There does come a time though that we willingly step into the light and say through both or words and deeds that it is Jesus we believe in. When we make that proclamation others notice just as they must have noticed Nicodemus.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you see signs saying John 3:16 what is the first thing that comes to mind?
• Are you one of those people who knows exactly when you first believed in Jesus or did you grow into faith?
• What conversations have you had that helped you understand God in a new way?
• Who can you talk to about your faith that might find encouragement and hope because of what you will say?

Aug. 28

Read Genesis 14

When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he lined up his servants, all of them born in his household—there were 318 of them—and chased after the captors all the way to Dan. (The Message)

Even though Abram and Lot had parted ways Abram was very distressed when he got word that his nephew and family had been taken captive. So Abram did what was necessary, he took his family, servants, and friends and chased after those who had captured Lot. This was rather foolish on Abram's part, he would have been greatly out numbered and he was putting himself and his family at great risk. It would have been much easier and safer for Abram to say, "Oh well, I guess Lot gets what he deserves for taking the easiest and best land and leaving me with the hills and scrub." But Abram doesn't do the easy thing he takes after the invaders and with God's help he frees his nephew and all the others who had been taken captive. The odds were against Abram but with God on his side he trusted that he would prevail and he did.
Today because of our mobility family might be something other than just those who are blood relatives. But the need for "family" to come to our aid has not changed. In fact it could be that we need a larger family now than we have ever needed before. We often talk about the church as a family and at its best that is exactly true. So there are times when the church needs to ask, "who in the family has been taken captive and is at risk?" When we have answered that questions we can do one of two things. We can either ignore their need and figure that they will get what they deserve or we can rally around and go after them.
Which kind of a church family would you want to be a part of?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What does it feel like to be outnumbered and the odds against you?
• Have you ever had someone come after you when you were lost or at risk? What did it feel like when they came to you?
• Who do you know that is at risk right now that is a part of your family?
• What do you need to do today to begin going after your family members that are at risk?

Aug. 27

Read Genesis 13

^14-17 After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you." (The Message)

Abram and Lot parted ways because their flocks and herds had gotten to large to share the same fields. Abram knew that something had to change and he offered Lot the choice of which way to go. Lot choose the easier looking area and Abram turned to go into the hills where he and his flocks and herds would have to work harder to find food and water. It had to be a great surprise then that God comes to Abram and says to him, "Open your eyes Abram! Everything you see will be yours and your descendent's after you." It turns out that what had seemed hard and out of the way actually was a part of the promise that God had made to Abram. It was Abram that flourished and Lot who seemed to have the easier way that would end up suffering.
Abram doesn't see the promise that is in front of him and God has to say, "OPEN YOUR EYES!" It seems that we should know better by now but God still has to say to us, "Open Your Eyes!" Jesus says that he has come so that we can have life and life in its fullest. If we believe that promise then we should open our eyes to see what it is that is already in our lives that we are missing. There is a saying that has been around forever, "The only place God can bless you is where you are." Instead of waiting for the blessings to come later on, over there, after that, or wherever it might be, maybe it is time to open our eyes and see the blessings that God has placed right in the middle of our lives.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you were growing up what did you think would be the moment when you were an adult?
• Have you ever had to take the more difficult path and found that it was actually the best for you later on? What did you learn along the way?
• If God stopped you today and told you to open your eyes to your blessings what would you see?
• Make time today to share with someone else the blessings that God has placed in front of you.

Aug. 26

Read Genesis 12

 ¹ God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. (The Message)

This is the call that people fear if they begin to take their faith to seriously. It is ok if God tells me to make small changes in my life or sometimes even larger ones as long as I get to stay safe and in the familiar. But we don't want to hear, "Sid, give up everything you thought you were going to do and the people you know and who know you and go to a place that is totally different than what you have become accustomed to." But we do hear that call and at least for me it has taken me places that I would not have gone otherwise. The first time I heard that call to leave what I knew and go to a strange place I ended up attending Seminary. The second time the call came I found myself in Wawaka, Indiana. This most recent time the call has put me in the position of leading a small group of people starting a new church with different focus than most.
I will be honest and say that non of the times that I've heard God say, "leave what you know and go to..." was I excited about the possibilities. But I will also say that in all of the times I have had to rely upon God it has been far greater than I could have ever anticipated. I have grown because I have followed and now cannot imagine what it would be like not to have followed the leading.
I won't say that following God's leading has been easy or even fun. In fact in the midst of this latest adventure I've very uncertain as to how it is all going to turn out in the end. What I've learned in the midst of it all is that where God leads is filled with surprises beyond my imagination. So I am prepared to live the life of a nomad, following the call of God where ever it will lead and trusting that through it all God will be faithful.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When Abram first heard God calling him to leave his own country what do you think his first response must have been?
• Have you ever felt like God was calling you to something completely new? What was it?
• Have you ever said yes to God in a completely new way? Have you ever said no to God when you were invited to do something new?
• Where might God be calling you to a new place or way of living today?

Aug. 25

Read Genesis 11

^1-2 At one time, the whole Earth spoke the same language. It so happened that as they moved out of the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled down.

 ³ They said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks and fire them well." They used brick for stone and tar for mortar.

 ⁴ Then they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let's make ourselves famous so we won't be scattered here and there across the Earth." (The Message)

The Tower of Babel story has many implications for us today it would seem. It is a story that we can relate to in an age when people seem to be regularly deciding that they will make themselves famous. It seems like our culture has begun to believe that being famous is worth any cost. The examples examples could include party crashers, steroid taking athletes, reality TV contestants, talk show hosts and guests willing to say anything to get noticed, "stars' releasing photos or videos because any news is good news, and on and on. It seems like people are still building their own towers to be noticed and become famous (god like maybe even) these days.
Just like the days of Babel there is a problem with setting out to be famous and god like and that is that it never lasts. In the Genesis story God comes along and scatters the people, thwarting their plans. Today God still does the same things but it just might be a bit more hidden than it was then. Famous people become infamous and the public that once idolized them turns on them. The next big thing comes along and before you know it the famous are forgotten.
There is a lot in the Bible about the need for a humble spirit and humble heart. It is there for our own good but we still don't seem to learn the lesson even if it has been taught repeatedly through the ages.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Who do you see trying to be famous today?
• What is your definition of humility?
• Have you ever felt like God was "cutting you down to size"? How did it happen?
• What do you need to do to keep you humble?

Aug. 24

Read Gen. 10

 ³² These are the clans of Noah's sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood. (NIV)

Be honest now did you really read the list of names in this chapter of Genesis? Did you glance at the names and say to yourself, "I can't pronounce them and they really aren't important, let's get on to the good stuff." If so you aren't alone. I even thought about skipping this chapter and just having you read chapters 10 and 11 and using tomorrows passage today. But there is something about a list of names that should make us stop and ponder some things.

• Why are these names here?
• What do these names represent in life stories not told?
• If these people represented by the names here had not lived who would have missed them?

It is the kind of thing that makes people spend hours working on genealogy research on a regular basis. We want to know where we come from and who the people behind the names in our history really are. Names of people and places are always important when they appear in the Bible. The reason why they are important might have been lost over the years but it doesn't change the fact that at one time someone said, "Let us not forget _____."

Whenever we read a list of the genealogy from the Bible we should stop and give thanks for those who have gone before us and at the same time ask ourselves how we will be remembered.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Who is the oldest person in your family tree that you know anything about?
• Do you have anyone famous in your linage? What are they famous for?
• Who do you credit your faith linage to?
• If someone was including you in a genealogy listing what one sentence would you want them to include beside your name?

Aug. 23

Read Genesis 9

^12-16 God continued, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth." (The Message)

This summer on our photo tour I leaned some things about rainbows that I had never bothered to consider. Things like a rainbow can only be seen when the sun is less than 45 degrees in the sky and that if there is rain and the sun is shinning in the right position there will be a rainbow somewhere. I leaned some of the science behind the whys of rainbows and how to predict where you will see a rainbow after the rain. But I also learned that even when you know the whys of rainbows it can't explain the beauty and awe of actually seeing a rainbow. I know how I feel when I see a rainbow, maybe not quite as excited as some who see double rainbows, but still excited for me. Then I read this passage and I see that God puts the rainbow in the clouds not for us but for Him and I'm left to wonder what does God feel when he sees the rainbow? Does God look upon us now and wish he hadn't made that promise so he could try again? Does God see the rainbow and remember fondly those who have persevered in faith when things got really bad and their was no end to the rain in sight? I'll never know on this side of eternity what God things when He sees the rainbow again in the clouds but I don't think it hurts to imagine and remember along with God those who have gone before us and taken hope because the bow is still in the clouds.


Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What is the most vivid rainbow you have ever seen?
• Have you ever leaned why certain natural phenomena happen and then found that it took away it's mystery and awe? What was it?
• Do you think it is wrong to attribute emotions / feelings to God? Why or why not?
• What sign might you use to remember God's love toward you as a person?

Aug. 22

Sunday's Devotional Readings reflect the passages explored during the worship service of New Ground Community Church and do not necessarily fit with the ongoing flow of study.

Read John 2

^15-17Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!" That's when his disciples remembered the Scripture, "Zeal for your house consumes me." (The Message)

One of the joys of the internet for me is the opportunity to connect with people around my passion for photography. I've learned so much from others in the comfort of my living room by seeing other people's pictures, talking online with them about technique, and having the chance for others to critique my work without worrying about hurting my feelings. When I see someone do something with their camera that I have not been able to do I'm challenged to learn the hows and whys of a particular style or effect. There is a problem though with simply desiring to learn more and that is the very real possibility that you can learn how to do a lot of things but never take the time to actually get out and practice it in real life. One can be passionate about photography and never take a picture just as you might become passionate about football but never go to a game in person or play the game yourself. When that happens one can become a fanatic and your whole life can revolve around a particular thing and yet the person is not really a part of things.
This story about Jesus demonstrates that he was not just passionate about God but was fully involved in following God no matter where it led him. Jesus knew that the Temple was designed as a place for people to connect with God and nothing more than that. He knew that when people filled the Temple with other things it took away from what it was designed by God to do. Because Jesus was passionate about connecting people to God he was willing to do more than have an intellectual conversation about God or even to ask how people were feeling about God. Jesus was filled with passion for God. It should make us stop and examine what we too are passionate about.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What are you passionate about?
• How is this story of Jesus clearing out the Temple different from most of the stories we remember about Jesus?
• How might you have responded to Jesus if you had been one of the merchants?
• What do you think the church can do that no other institution can accomplish in today's world?

Aug. 21

Read Genesis 8

 ^1-3 Then God turned his attention to Noah and all the wild animals and farm animals with him on the ship. God caused the wind to blow and the floodwaters began to go down. The underground springs were shut off, the windows of Heaven closed and the rain quit. Inch by inch the water lowered. After 150 days the worst was over. (The Message)

The Great Flood is over for Noah and once the rain stopped you would think that now it was a sigh of relief and Noah and his family were going to get back to work and life just like it had been before the flood. But the scripture does not tell the story that way. What the Bible says is that the rain stopped and the water slowly went down not all at once but only inch by inch. When the water goes down by inches after it had rained for 40 days it takes some time for the water to completely recede. In fact the story is very specific in that it says it took 150 days for the very worst to be over. It is not hard for me to imagine that for Noah and his family those 150 days were the most agonizing days of their time on the Ark. After all when the rain had been coming down they were fully engage in staying afloat and battling the elements in that moment. After the rain stopped their situation didn't change immediately, the rain stopped, but there was no dry ground to stand on.
There are some times when we have found ourselves in the midst of a great storm of life and afterward we are ready to just get back to normal life and we wonder why we can't just get there now. Noah's story reminds us that the flood and its aftermath do not go away overnight. It takes time for life to return as we knew it and the reality is that even after we are once again standing on dry ground it is never the same.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• If you have to be in a storm which would you prefer; a snow storm, a thunderstorm, or a windstorm? Why?
• If you would have been on the Ark with Noah which would you rather have endured, the 40 days of rain or the 150 days of the water going down?
• What makes you impatient the most following a difficult time in your own life?
• Where do you find yourself now in the 150 days of waiting? What brings you hope that you will once again stand on dry ground?

Aug. 20

Read Genesis 7

^11-12 It was the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month that it happened: all the underground springs erupted and all the windows of Heaven were thrown open. Rain poured for forty days and forty nights. (The Message)

Some of us know the date and even time when it all hit. The moment that it seemed like life got turned upside down, never to be the same again. Maybe it came out of no where or possibly you saw the storm clouds building and you were bracing yourself for the moment even if you didn't have any idea what it was going to be.
In reading the story of Noah there is this moment when life suddenly changes. Some people might think that the moment was when God told Noah to build the Ark or when he was told to gather the animals or even when he was told to get into the Ark. But I think the moment when everything changed was the moment the waters started to erupt upon the earth around Noah. At that moment there was no looking back or second guessing Noah's own response. Up to that point there was always the chance that Noah just misunderstood what God was saying and the building and gathering was a practice of faithfulness demonstrating that Noah would do what God wanted but that it was not something that God was really going to use. When the rain started though it didn't just rain, it poured! At that moment there was no going back only forward. Noah couldn't change anything that he had or hadn't done up to that point. From that time on Noah was totally dependent upon God in the midst of the storm. He had no other choice but to ride it out and hope for the best. In the midst of it all it must have felt like the longest 40 days possible.
The Bible says Noah lived 950 years (or 346,750 days). You can take that number literally to mean that Noah lived almost a century or you can understand it as representing a very long time. Either way the 40 days of rain are put into the perspective of a lot of life that Noah lived. Did those 40 days change Noah? I'm sure those days made a difference in the way Noah looked at everything in his life, they couldn't help but do so. At the same time Noah was able to come through those days and still live beyond them after they were done.
What about your moment? Are you living in the midst of the rain? Are you second guessing yourself about how prepared you were for the rain? Are you stuck in the rain that has long sense stopped but you haven't looked to see if the sky has cleared and the ground dried up?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you see storm clouds building do you run for the window to watch or the basement to hide?
• What is the worst storm you have ever been caught in?
• Have you ever had a time that felt like 40 days of eternal rain in your life? How did you get through it?
• How have periods of rain in your life defined who you are today?

Aug. 19

Read Genesis 6

 ^9-10 This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (The Message)

Genesis starts the story of the flood by bringing our attention to Noah and a few things about him. We very quickly get the impression from what is said about Noah that he is different from those around him. It would appear that not only did God notice that Noah was different but that Noah's community noticed it as well. While we often try to fool ourselves into thinking that we don't really care what others think about us the Bible seems to say that on some level it is important. Given the current trend of American culture having less and less trust for both Christians and the Christian church it seems that maybe it is time to ask how our communities see us.
While we can't ultimately control how others are going to respond to us or what they will think about us the little things that we do make a difference. One of the basic principles of those practicing medicine is, "First do no harm." It could be something that Churches and Christians might consider also. Might the world feel and think differently about us if we took seriously the impact of our words and actions and how the world might see Jesus because of these? Could it be that what we do and say should not do harm to the cause of Christ?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Who do you know that has integrity? What makes them a person of integrity?
• What most impacts the way your family and friends sees the church?
• When you see or hear actions of Christians on the news what is your first response?
• If you considered your actions first as doing no harm to the cause of Christ would you change anything you do?

Aug. 18

Read Genesis 5

 ^1-2 This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God. He created both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race.

 ^3-5 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was just like him, his very spirit and image, and named him Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. Adam lived a total of 930 years. And he died. (The Message)

After the problems with Cain and Abel we come back to the reminder that God has created humankind in God's image. It wouldn't be hard to imagine God trying to put distance between himself and humans after what happened in the garden as well as between the two brothers. But God reminds us again that we are made in his image. In fact the same language is used about Seth being the image of Adam as we saw earlier in reference to man's creation.
In last Thursdays Devotional we explored some of the implications of looking at others as being made in the image of God. It is an area that will do us well to consider on a regular basis but today let's take a little different perspective. What does it mean for you to understand the you are made in God's image. It could be that it is easier for you to believe that other people are special enough to be in the image of God but not yourself.
When we understand that each of us is made in the image of God it should impact not just how we treat others but also the way we look upon ourselves. When you look in the mirror in the morning have you ever said to yourself, "God made me to look like him in spirit and truth and today I'm going to live like it!"

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Who do you look most like in your family?
• What mannerisms of others do you notice that are present in your actions?
• Do you treat others better than you treat yourself, worse than yourself, or the same? What would others say you do?
• If you got up tomorrow morning and looked in the mirror and said, "God made me to look like him in spirit and truth and today I'm going to live like it!" how might your day be different than yesterday?

Aug. 17

Read Genesis 4

^3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. (The Message)

When I read this story of Cain and Abel I have to admit that at first glance it doesn't seem fair at all. Why would God choose one offering over another? Weren't both offerings brought with good intentions and given freely, if so why was Abel's gift liked but apparently not Cains?
There seem to be a couple of clues that might help us understand this in a deeper way.

1. Abel brings the first of what he has. When you bring something that is first you do so without knowing how the rest of things are going to turn out. Abel didn't know if the other animals would be born healthy but even so he brought what was best and not what was left.
2. Cain brought an offering from amongst everything he had. He picked not what he would miss most or was the best in bringing his offering.
3. Cain saw the offering as a competition and thought that he had lost.
4. Cain chose not to look at his relationship with God but rather took his disappointed out on his brother.

All of these responses can be our responses as well. It isn't always comfortable in examining the offerings we bring to God, however when we refuse to be honest with ourselves and God in what we give and why we are the one's that lose out. 

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Have you ever received a gift that you could tell was not thoughtfully considered? How did it make you feel?
• When you want someone to know how much they mean to you how do you try to express that feeling?
• Do you give to God like Abel from the first of what you have or like Cain from the rest of what you have?
• How might you become more like Abel and less like Cain?

Aug. 16

Read Genesis 3

 ⁸ When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.

 ⁹ God called to the Man: "Where are you?"

 ¹⁰ He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." (The Message)

Adam and Eve have disobeyed God and now believe they have to hide from God in the garden. This passage contrasts with Saturdays reading where God sets man and women together and says that "They were naked and felt no shame." (Gen. 2:25) This is obviously not what God had intended for man and women. The reality is that we too at times find ourselves hiding from God when we sense that God is getting close. We hide for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes we hide because we know we are guilty of disobeying God's desires for us. Other times we might hide because other people have made us feel like God will punish us when what we have done/thought/etc. comes to light. We might even hide from God because we fear that we will be told to do something more than we think we can handle.
Adam and Eve find that their actions led to consequences (which all sin does). Those consequences though do not mean that God stops caring for them. Immediately following their banishment from the garden God makes clothes for them and sets them on their way. While sin changes the relationship between us and God the good news is that God never turns God's back to us.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you were young did you enjoy playing hide and seek? Why or why not?
• What is the best hiding place you ever found? What did it feel like if no one found you?
• What might you be hiding from God and why?
• What do you need to do today to allow God to find you where you have been hiding?

Aug. 15

Sunday's Devotional Readings reflect the passages explored during the worship service of New Ground Community Church and do not necessarily fit with the ongoing flow of study found here.

Read John 2

 ^6-7Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, "Fill the pots with water." And they filled them to the brim.

 ⁸"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did.

 ^9-10When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!" (The Message)

Today's scripture allows us to think about how Jesus makes the ordinary extraordinary. The first miracle of Jesus' recorded takes place in an everyday setting and is very different than the others that will come soon. The timing and place of the miracle raise all kinds of questions that don't have easy answers. So much of the story is left out that we can't help but guess at what some of the other details might be.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What is the best part of attending a wedding for you?
• If you could invite Jesus to a personal milestone in your life what would it be and why?
• How does Jesus change ordinary things, events, people in your life into something extraordinary?
• How can you be apart of making something extraordinary for someone you know?

Aug. 14

Read Genesis 2

 ^23-25 The Man said, 
   "Finally! Bone of my bone, 
      flesh of my flesh! 
   Name her Woman 
      for she was made from Man." 
      Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. 
      The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. (The Message)

This is a passage that I regularly use as a part of weddings. I believe that it has a great deal to say to us about what it means to be real with one another both in marriages as well as in other relationships. While being naked can be a physical reality is is also an emotional reality that suggests a deep sense of vulnerability. In a marriage relationship or in a deep spiritual friendship vulnerability is a necessity for growth. What stands out for me is that God has designed us to be vulnerable within specific relationships and it is that vulnerability that builds a connection that binds us together.
It is difficult to be vulnerable in our relationships and we should realize that the number of people who we are going to be willing to be completely vulnerable with is relative small. (Maybe 3 to 5 at the most if we are really trusting.) Even though it is difficult it is also necessary and each of us should be intent on finding those few people who we can be completely honest and ourselves with. It won't happen overnight because trust takes time to develop.
How do you know when you have a relationship that is truly open and that you can take the risk of being vulnerable? I believe that the shame issue is a primary indicator of the depth of the relationship. Shame is what other people do to make you feel guilty for who you are, it is a false guilt, and makes you feel unloved or even worthy of being loved. Shame makes you hide your ideas, feelings, dreams, and desires because you don't want to risk being hurt. Vulnerability allows you to risk sharing your deepest thoughts with the knowledge that even if the person you share with doesn't agree or even like them they will continue to love you because of who you are in God's eyes. It is this kind of relationship that we are made for in marriages, among close spiritual friends, and about all with God. 

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you were growing up what did the ideal marriage look like?
• What positive relationships have you had modeled for you in your life? Why did these relationships stand out for you?
• How might you define the difference between shame and guilt?
• What relationships do you have that you might risk being more vulnerable within? 

Aug. 13

After going through the letters in the New Testament not written by Paul we are going to turn our attention to the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis. This could take a long time if we covered everything that we possibly could in the midst of this book so we will try to focus upon what we can learn from these wonderful stories about God, our relationship to God, as well as our relationships with one another. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I will.

Read Genesis 1

God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature (The Message)

One of the age old questions seems to be, "Are men and women born good or do people have to learn how to be good?" While this could be a great psychology class discussion it really has deep theological and practical implications. How you answer this question will say a lot about how you read the Bible, how you treat other people, and how you understand your place in the world.
The Bible starts out by setting the stage for humanities existence. God creates a space and context which people are to inhabit and when humans are made for this place they are made reflecting the essence (or nature) of God. To say this separates the followers of God from many other early religious ideas which placed  humans on earth for the entertainment of the deities. The God of the Bible though has a different relationship with humanity and invites humanity to have a different relationship with God. Being made in God's image invites a connection and an understanding of ourselves and one another which is centered around God's creative work. If we are to understand our relationship to God and to one another we have to start here at the very beginning.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Did you grow up being told that everyone was basically good or basically evil?
• How has your life been shaped by your answer to the first question? 
• When you look at someone else do you see God in them? What difference does that make?
• If you lived each of your days with the awareness that you have the likeness of God within you what difference might that make?

Aug. 12

Read Jude 1

^22-23Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. (The Message)

The letter of Jude doesn't take long to read but it should make us pause to think. Jude spends the first part of his letter reminding his audience that every age has had those who have opposed the work of God. Our current state is no different than it was in the times of Jude and the history that he recounts. At the end of the letter Jude urges patience and grace with those who go astray. This is where the phrase, "hate the sin, but love the sinner" comes from. The problem with the phrase and the way we normally practice it is that we say in one way or another that we will love the person who we see as sinning when they quit sinning. In most cases the person we name as a "sinner" does not consider themselves as such. They are simply doing what they want and what feels right to them at that given time. So when we say we love them but hate their activity they hear that we really don't love them. Those we look upon as sinners often feel like we avoid them and don't take the time to see them as real people but rather as projects to be changed.

Jude is very clear that we should not embrace sin no matter who it is that commits that sin. But I believe Jude also invites us to examine our own attitudes of love and concern for others. Do we have patience and mercy for others? Do we treat others with respect and love no matter their choices? These are not easy issues to deal with because what we might find is that we are changed by our examination and change is not always something that we are comfortable with.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you best experience being loved by someone else that is not a family member?
• What behaviors do you find most repulsive?
• When you see someone engaged in that behavior what is your response?
• How might you practice loving someone whose behavior you do not agree with?

Aug. 11

Read 3 John 1

⁵Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.⁶They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. ⁸We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth. (The Message)


John's third letter is a letter of encouragement to believers to treat the travelling believers with love and respect helping them in every way possible. It is basically a letter encouraging them to continue to reach out and support the missionaries that were travelling among them. The work that those travelling and those that are providing hospitality are working for the same purpose and they should be working together. Behind the letter  is conflict between those who thought of themselves as more important than those who were travelling sharing the good news and those who were humbly welcoming the travelers with open arms.
The letter is a warning about humility and the need for openness to those outside of ones circle. This is important to John and it should be important to us as well. The reason why the traveling interaction is so important is that without it the risk to the community of becoming ingrown and losing its Christ centered focus becomes great. John doesn't want people to lose their first love in Jesus and get carried away around things that aren't of ultimate importance.
While these concerns might seem to be outdated for us today they are still of great importance. It seems like the more we can communicate around the world the greater the likelihood that we are only talking to those who have the same thoughts and beliefs that we have ourselves. The reality is that we often do not provide an open setting for people who come from different places and might have different viewpoints or experiences of Jesus into our lives to learn from and grow with together. When we fail to do this we fail to live out the love that John spends so much time encouraging.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What does showing hospitality to other believers mean to you?
• How do you practice hospitality?
• Who do you need to welcome into your life that might have had a different experience with Jesus than you?
• What can you do today to expand your circle of friends/acquaintances beyond people who are like you?

Aug. 10

Read 2 John 1

^4-6I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed. (The Message)

If you have been reading along over the last few days as we have been looking at the letters of John you might begin to wonder if John has anything else to say but, "love one another." The truth is that yes John says a few other things but he keeps coming back to this without fail. Is it that he didn't know anything else or is it that it was so important that he couldn't emphasis it enough? I believe that John's experience with the people of faith kept bringing him back to this point as both that which expressed the essence of Jesus most clearly and was also the largest short coming of those who believed.
For a parent great joy comes when their child puts into practice that which they have been taught and that is the same kind of joy that John is expressing of his own over the way the people are living. I know that over the years of ministry that I have participated in the greatest joy I have had is when I have seen people put their faith into action and make a difference in the world. It is reward enough to know that I have had some small part in helping them get to that point in their faith journey that they can impact the world through that faith. There are to sides to this equation for John and for us. The first is living out a life of love directly with those around us and the second is helping those around us love people in a more Christlike way beyond us. I believe John would say you can't have one without the other.

Some thoughts to ponder and discuss with others:

• What is it about "loving one another" that you get tired about hearing?
• Do you do a better job of loving others or encouraging others to love better?
• Is there someone in your life who looks at the way you are growing in faith and love and is pleased? Why do you think they pleased?
• Who in your life might you mentor to help them love others in a more Christlike way?

Aug. 9

Read 1 John 5

^1-3Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we'll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. (The Message)

One of the complaints about the Christian church heard regularly is that it is filled with hypocrites. That people who are a part of the church say they believe one thing and then do the opposite. In most cases it isn't that people say they are against killing people and then go out on a regular basis and do just that. The problem arises around the relational issues so commonly addresses in the Bible and so important in daily life. Things like gossip, lack of respect, an unwillingness to forgive, passing unfair judgement, etc. are the reason those outside the church see it as being hypocritical.
John in his focus upon loving one another suggests that when we love God and keep the commandments we are exhibiting our faith. It is a reminder of the answer to the question Jesus was asked about what one must do to be saved and when the answer was to love God and love others as yourself his reply was simply to go and do that. It really sounds simple and John here in this passage says that it really shouldn't be a lot of trouble. So maybe that is what we should focus upon. Rather than the church having to stand up for God (who by the way I think is big enough to defend himself) what if the church focused upon how it could best love God, each other, and those God might bring into the people's lives? Would this change the impression of those outside of the church? It seemed to in the early church because one of the comments made about them was, "See how they love one another!"

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Where do you think people outside the church most often see hypocrisy within the church?
• Why does it seem so difficult to bring the relational teachings of the Bible into one's daily life?
• What one relational sin are you most guilty of and how could you begin to change that?
• Who do you have in your life that might be able to help you be accountable to loving your neighbor as yourself? What might it look like if you met with that person(s) regularly and were willing to talk about where you fell short in loving yourself and others?

Aug. 8

On Sundays the devotional reflects the scripture from the morning teaching of New Ground Community Church. Monday will pick up the thread of scripture where it was left on Saturday.

Read John 1

 ^43-44The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, "Come, follow me." (Philip's hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)

 ^45-46Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, "We've found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It's Jesus, Joseph's son, the one from Nazareth!" Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding."

   But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself."

 ⁴⁷When Jesus saw him coming he said, "There's a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body."

 ⁴⁸Nathanael said, "Where did you get that idea? You don't know me."

   Jesus answered, "One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree."

 ⁴⁹Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!"

 ^50-51Jesus said, "You've become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven't seen anything yet! Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again." (The Message)

This passage in John begins the story of those who choose to follow Jesus. It is a story of some who Jesus seems to call and some whom others invite to come check out Jesus. It is a story that each one of us should be able to relate to. Evey one encounters Jesus in a different way. Each person has a unique story and the Bible only begins to give us a glimpse of the multitude of ways that someone can come to faith. There is no right or wrong way to come to Jesus. But when we come to Jesus we invite him to know us in a way that no one else can or will

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What is the first story you remember hearing of someone you know learning to know Jesus?
• How are you most comfortable talking about Jesus?
• Of the people you know who are not actively living a life of faith in Jesus right now what do you think turns them off the most about "religious" people?
• Who do you know that might be open to hearing your story of the difference Jesus makes in your life?

Aug. 7

Read 1 John 4

18 There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (The Message)

It seems like there are all kinds of things that come our way that invite us to be afraid. If it isn't spiders or snakes it's illnesses or finances. Every time we turn around there is something that we can't control that makes us uneasy.   If we don't have enough of our own fear to face on a regular basis there is always someone else willing to send us an e-mail with the latest "news" which we should become concerned about. We are a culture that has become obsessed with safety and a desire to limit our exposure to risks.
At the same time we seem to want to limit our risk we have seen a huge increase in extreme sports and some of the top grossing films have been horror films of late. It is almost as if we are trying to face our fears in as controlled an environment as possible. It is ok if we are afraid for 90 minutes in a movie theater or we risk bodily harm by speeding down a mountain trail on a bike but don't let us consider the fact that we do not have ultimate control over our world.
Into this world the Bibles tells us not to be afraid, that perfect love casts out fear, and that when we trust in Jesus there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Most of us want to get to the point where we live our lives without fear but it just doesn't seem to come naturally. We read self-help books, we talk to counselors, we avoid those things that raise our anxiety levels, and we even throw ourselves out of perfectly good airplanes all in the hope of facing down our fears and living a fearless life. Yet we find it difficult to throw ourselves into the hands of God and trust Him in all things. Maybe instead of facing the fears of this world we would be better off embracing the one God who will hold us through into eternity where there will be no tears, illness, pain, or anything to fear.

Some things to ponder and share with others:

• What situations cause you to feel fearful? 
• Have you ever overcome a fear or phobia? How did you do this?
• How might you turn to God the next time you are in a situation where you are beginning to feel afraid?
• Is there a way for you to bring God's love to someone else who is feeling fearful right now?

Aug. 6

Read 1 John 3

¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ¹⁹This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (The Message)

In the New Testament love is an active word, it never simply sits there and looks nice, it always has some impact upon those it touches. John picks up the theme well and proclaims that love is practiced in action and truth. At first glance it might seem a bit strange that these two words are put together but if you stop to think about it they really do make sense. The actions of someone might seem good, kind, and for our benefit at first glance. However if the actions are not based upon true feelings of love coming from one's heart then those same actions become manipulative and destructive. Eventually our heart gives away our true intent while our actions give away what our heart feels.
So is it really possible to love someone else with the purity of love that Jesus has for us? John says that Jesus' love was shown in the fact that he gave his life for us. But we don't have to die for the world because Jesus has already done that part and it can't be repeated. Is it possible though to die to our own selfishness for the sake of others? This is where it gets difficult I think. Because before we can die to our own selfishness we have to become aware of what drives us and makes us choose one thing over another. We have to know our own hearts more than most of us are comfortable with. We have to know why we act or don't act the way we do toward others and that isn't easy.
Over and over in the New Testament I read that we are to love another. I read that and it sounds so easy and simple. It seems like we should be able to do that with ease and then everything will be just fine. Then I look upon my actions and I look into my heart and I see that I have so far to go that I get discouraged and despair of ever getting it right. Yet because I know that Jesus loves me I put away the discouragement and despair and move back into the world doing the best to love with both action and truth.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Which do you find easier to say you love someone or to act in loving ways?
• How do you know if someone is acting out of love or self-interest?
• How do you know when you are acting out of love or self-interest?
• What act can you do today for someone your heart says you love?

Aug. 5

Read 1 John 2

"^7-8My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!

 ^9-11Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness." (The Message)

The letters of John spend a lot of time focusing on the theme of love toward one another. As John says, "I'm not writing anything new here." Yet it seems like this is the hardest thing to get right. The church is not always known for how well it exhibits love toward those outside the church let alone how well they love each other. Could part of the problem be that we really have not approached the issue with an honesty that allows us to have a common understanding of what loving one another looks like?
When I was growing up we would often play baseball in the back yard of the church next door. Because of the size of the yard we had ground rules that dictated how we played that were different than if we went down the street to play on the baseball diamond at the school. So when there was someone new who joined us or we got into an argument over how things were being called we had to stop and go over the ground rules once again. Sometimes we made exceptions to the rules and sometimes we changed them because they just weren't working anymore. But no matter what everyone knew the rules and agreed to play by them or they didn't play.
If the church established some ground rules when it came to the expectation to love one another what might they include? As we begin our new faith gathering I believe this is going to be an important conversation and one that will change as we grow in faith and love. So as a way of starting the conversation here are a couple of things that I might suggest.

Ground Rules for Loving One Another:

• Everyone is made in the image of God and thus worthy of full respect
• Everyone will assume that others have their best interest in mind 
• Everyone will speak with honesty to one another in kind ways
• Everyone's needs will take precedence over any one individuals wants
•  

What might you suggest to add to the list?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Have you ever had an experience where you felt as if you were fully loved by a group of people? What made you feel that way?
• Who do you know that feels as if the church hasn't loved them in an appropriate way? Why do you think they feel this way?
• What ground rules do you have in relationships with others? Do they change depending upon the person or situation?
• Would you have to change anything in the way you related to others if you agreed to the above ground rules? Would it be easy or difficult? How could you start?

Aug. 4

Read 1 John 1

"^8-10If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God." (The Message)

Most of us would consider ourselves to be basically good people. On a scale from good to bad we would not place ourselves completely at the top of the good scale but we would consider ourselves better than most. It isn't that we don't see our own faults and short comings but we see other's sins so clearly. This way we can justify our smaller sins by saying they are not as bad as someone else's. After all if we aren't robbing banks the paper supplies that we are "borrowing" from the office really aren't a problem. Because we haven't hurt someone physically the gossip that we are spreading behind their backs doesn't really reflect upon who we are.
The problem with this very real mind set is that, as John says, we are fooling ourselves. Jesus is very clear in the teaching we have in the Gospels that sin is sin. There is no scale that God grades upon. Sin does one of two things; it damages our relationship with other people or it keeps us from fully becoming the person God desires us to be, both of which keep us from experiencing God's living presence in our daily lives.
So John says we should confess our sins. Which really means that we examine our lives and recognize where we fall short, name things for what they are, and ask God for forgiveness and the opportunity to do better the next time. Most of the time we can do this confession and repentance in our daily prayers (in the evening before going to sleep is a good time to examine your day) but sometimes we need to find a person to do this with. We need to hear the words "You are forgiven" come from the mouth of someone who knows us. This is one of the roles of the priesthood of all believers. That we hear the confession and offer the forgiveness that our brothers and sisters in faith need to hear.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• If you were to put yourself on a sliding scale of sinners where would you place yourself?
• Why do you think we need to find people who appear to be "worse" than we are to make ourselves feel better?
• How comfortable are you in confessing your sins to God? to someone else?
• Take time to name 3 things that you have done in the last 24 hours that have hurt your relationship with someone else or kept you from fulling becoming the person God wants you to become. Spend time in prayer or in conversation with someone you trust asking for God's forgiveness in these things.